IChMASCOT
Ion Channel-Markov-Scheme-Optimizer
“Patch me if you can”
This
movie clip illustrates the principle of the tight-seal patch-clamp method. It
begins with a neuron in a culture dish. Then, a glass microelectrode
(“patch pipette”) approaches the neuron, touches its surface and, upon
application of slight suction, a tight gigaohm seal forms between the glass and
the cell membrane. Virtual zooming continues across the patch pipette
until the viewer sees a single voltage-gated ion channel in action. The
patch-clamp method allows the physical isolation and direct electrical
observation of a single ion channel in real time.
If you
want a copy of this movie, please contact:
manuel.covarrubias@jefferson.edu
Copyright © 2008 Thomas
Jefferson University