PATCH CLAMPING FUNGAL MEMBRANES - A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ION-TRANSPORT

Studies of ion transport in animal and plant cells have undergone rapi d advances in recent years with the introduction of patch clamping - a n electrophysiological technique which enables the resolution in real time of ion movements through single channel proteins. In fungal cells there have been reports of voltage-, ligand- and stretch-activated io n channels but it would seem that progress in this area is lagging beh ind. This review aims to present patch clamp to a wider mycological co mmunity and so increase awareness of the potential that this technique presents to the study of fungi.