Properties of single ion channel currents elicted by a pulse of agonist concentration or voltage

Abstract

Experiments are often performed to study the behaviour of a single ion channel in response to a perturbation produced by a step change (‘jump’) in a variable that influences its equilibrium position, for example a voltage jump or jump in agonist concentration. It is also common to apply a rectangular pulse (consisting of an on jump followed by an off jump); for example brief concentration pulses are used to mimic synaptic transmission.