Dev Biol 1985 Nov 01;1121:253-7. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(85)90140-x.

Single-channel activity of bilayers derived from sea urchin sperm plasma membranes at the tip of a patch-clamp electrode.

Abstract
Changes in the plasma membrane permeability of echinoderm sperm play a fundamental role in the acrosome reaction. During the reaction there is an increase in intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ and an efflux of H+ and K+. We have formed bilayers at the tip of patch pipets from a mixture of lipid vesicles and sea urchin sperm plasma membranes (12-50 microgram protein/ml). We observed three types of K+ channels (conductances: 22, 46, and 82 pS), two of which are partially blocked by TEA, and one Cl- channel (148 pS). The presence of K+ channels in sperm plasma membranes is consistent with the inhibition by TEA of the acrosome reaction in whole sperm and the membrane potential change that occurs during the reaction.

PubMed ID: 2414143
Article link: Dev Biol


Genes referenced: LOC100887844