Dimeric structure of single chloride channels from Torpedo electroplax.

The inhibition by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate (DIDS) of Cl- channels from Torpedo electroplax incorporated in planar phospholipid bilayer membranes is studied. DIDS irreversibly and rapidly inhibits the macroscopic conductance of membranes containing many channels. At the single-channel level, the effect of DIDS is more complicated. The uninhibited single channel displays three "substates" of conductances 20, 10, and 0 pS. Short exposure (5-30 s) to 10 microM DIDS converts this three-level active channel into a "conventional" channel of 10-pS conductance. Longer exposure eliminates all channel fluctuations. The results are taken as strong evidence that the Cl- channel is constructed as a functional dimer of identical protein subunits.