PRESSURE-CLAMP TECHNIQUE FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE RELAXATION KINETICS OF MECHANOSENSITIVE CHANNELS

The pressure-clamp technique, used in conjunction with patch-clamp tec hniques, allows the application of precise pressure/suction waveforms to membrane patches and whole cells. Using step perturbations in press ure, it allows rapid relaxation measurements of the latency, tum-on, t um-off and adaptation kinetics of mechanosensitive membrane ion channe ls, The pressure-clamp technique also provides the ability to apply ge ntle and reproducible sealing protocols to establish tight seals and t hereby minimize membrane-cytoskeleton disruption which can otherwise a lter channel properties.