Transcellular ionic currents studied by intracellular potential recordings in Neurospora crassa hyphae Transfer of energy from proximal to apical cells

Abstract

Membrane potentials, input resistances, and electric coupling in the apical parts of N.crassa growing hyphae were recorded with the aid of intracellular microelectrodes. It was revealed that the apical cells were always depolarized by 10 to 30 mV as compared to the adjacent proximal cells. The septal pore maintained an electrical resistance of 4 to 6 MΩ. The calculated values of the endogenous electrical current passing through the septal pore varied between 0.5 and 1 nA. Electrical isolation of the apical cells resulted in their depolarization from 120–150 mV to 40–60 mV, characteristics of the membrane potential value of N.crassa adult hyphae with completely blocked electrogenic pumps. A simultaneous increase in the input resistance value from 15–20 MΩ to 40–80 MΩ was observed. The above data can be explained assuming that H +-ATPase activity was greatly lowered in the apical cells. Thus in the intact hyphae with electrically coupled cells energy is transferred from the proximal hyphal compartments to the apical ones.