Characterization of a Cl(-)-channel from rabbit transverse tubules in the planar lipid bilayer system.

A Cl(-)-channel of the transverse tubule(TT) was incorporated into artificial planar lipid bilayers and its properties were investigated. The channel was found to have the following properties. (1) The single-channel conductance is 40 pS in choline-Cl solution. (2) The rate of gating of the channel does not depend on the membrane voltage. (3) The channel is blocked by stilbene derivatives (DIDS and SITS), which are known as inhibitors of voltage-dependent Cl(-)-channels of the Torpedo electric organ, from both sides of the membrane. (4) An inhibitor of voltage-dependent Cl(-)-channels of skeletal muscle, 9-anthracene carboxylic acid(9-AC), inhibits Cl(-)-current from the cis-side to which the TT vesicles were added.