Patch Fluorometry: Shedding New Light on Ion Channels

Abstract

Patch fluorometry has emerged as a new approach to the study of the structure-function relationship in membrane-embedded functional ion channels. Simultaneous fluorescent and electrical recordings are achieved from a small number of channels in a cell-free membrane patch, yielding high recording sensitivities. Further improvement of this approach should permit direct observation of the gating motion of a single-channel protein.