Green circuits ? The potential of plant specific ion channels

pH control of the plant outwardly‐rectifying potassium channel SKOR

“…Interestingly, the SKOR single channel conductance (23 pS in 10 mM external K + ) is similar (taking into account the different K + concentration used) to that of Kout characterised in stelar cells of Arabidopsis (15.5 pS [28]) where SKOR is expressed [9]. The functional similarities between SKOR and Kout channels characterised in vivo [10,29] suggest that tight structural relationships exist between the various members of the plant family of shaker‐like outwardly‐rectifying channels. SKOR could therefore constitute a model for studying the structure‐function relationship of these channels.…”

Cloning and electrophysiological analysis of KST1, an inward rectifying K+ channel expressed in potato guard cells.

“…Electrophysiological and molecular biological studies identified potassium-selective channels and protoncoupled carriers as pathways for potassium translocation across plant membranes (Schachtman et al, 1992;Sentenac et al, 1992;Schachtman and Schroeder, 1994). Since the application of the patch-clamp technique to plant protoplasts, K+ channels have been observed in all species and tissues investigated (see Hedrich and Becker, 1994, for a review). These versatile cellular tools for the control of K+ fluxes and stabilization of the membrane potential represent a general feature of the plant plasma membrane.…”

Association of plant K+in channels is mediated by conserved C‐termini and does not affect subunit assembly

“…Potassium channels take part in important processes of higher plants, including opening and closing of stomatal pores and leaf movement [1–3]. The molecular cloning of several plant voltage‐gated inward rectifying K + (K + in ) channels has been reported during the recent years [4–8].…”