Tetramethylammonium ions alter sodium-channel gating in Myxicola

Abstract

In Myxicola axons, substitution of tetramethylammonium (TMA+) for Cs+ alters intramembrane charge movements (gating currents). Although the total charge moved during and following a depolarizing step remains constant, with TMA+ the ON response has additional slower component(s), and the OFF response is retarded. Concommitantly, TMA+ produces the same voltage-dependent block of Na+ inactivation in Myxicola as has been observed in other preparations. At large positive potentials as many as 70% of the Na+ channels fail to inactivate in the steady state. In addition, TMA+ slows Na+ activation, retards the inactivation of those Na+ channels that remain able to inactivate, and decreases the maximum Na+ conductance. The steady-state Na+ conductance induced by internal TMA+ or Na+ is consistent with a scheme in which these internal cations simply modify Na+ channels in an all-or-none fashion so that a fraction become incapable of inactivating.