Several types of sodium-conducting channel in human carcinoma A-431 cells.

Patch clamp method in outside-out configuration was used to search for cation channels which possibly mediate sodium influx through plasma membrane in A-431 carcinoma cells. We found four types of nonvoltage-gated Na-conducting channel. The first of 9-10 pS conductance (145 mM Na+, 30 degrees C) seems to be Na-selective; three others were characterized with conductance values of 24, 35 and 65 pS and lower selectivity among cations. Na-selective channels (9-10 pS) were not blocked by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). External application of amiloride (0.1-2 mM) resulted in a reversible inhibition of single currents through Na-selective channels.