A patch‐clamp study of ion channels of inner and outer membranes and of contact zones of E. coli, fused into giant liposomes

Abstract

Inner and outer membranes of Escherichia coli and contact zones were isolated and fused separately with giant liposomes amenable to patch-clamp recording. Different types of large pressure-activated channels were localized in the inner membrane fraction which also contained smaller, pressure-insensitive channels. The outer membrane contained pressure-insensitive channels with large conductances and long opening and closing times which are likely to be porins. Large channels were also observed in contact zones.