Gated, ion-selective channels observed with patch pipettes in the absence of membranes: novel properties of a gigaseal.

Gigaohm seals made between patch pipettes and hydrophobic substrates have a finite conductance which are cation-selective and capable of producing quantized gating indistinguishable from the gating of biological ion channels. The selectivity sequence and streaming potentials of these seals suggests the existence of a pore of similar dimensions to the nicotinic acetylcholine channel. The ionic selectivity of these seals appears similar to the seal selectivity observed with membrane patches (Fischmeister, R., R. K. Ayer, and R. L. DeHann. 1986. Pfluegers Arch. 406:73-82) and the possibility of discrete gating within the seal region suggests caution when interpreting patch clamp data from unfamiliar preparations. The data suggests that the permeation pathway is the narrow space between the hydrophobic substrate and the pipette. Since this space has one hydrophobic wall, a hydrophilic channel lining may not be essential for channel permeation and gating.