Chara buckellii, a euryhaline charophyte from an unusual saline environment. II. Membrane potential and membrane conductance at steady state

Electrophysiological experiments were performed on internodal cells of Chara buckellii cultured in saline and freshwater media to see whether the membrane potential (Evo) and membrane conductance (Gm) are dominated by passive K+ conductance (K state), passive H+ conductance (H state), or active proton pumping (P state). Unlike other euryhaline charophytes, C. buckellii cells cultured under saline conditions were not dominated by any one state, showing little dependence on external K+ concentration and pH (pH°). Chara buckellii cells cultured in freshwater share some membrane properties with other freshwater charophytes. Freshwater cells appeared to be in the P state between pH° 5 and 7 as expected but never attained the H state usually observed at high pH° (> 10). Freshwater cells also showed a temporary, threefold increase in Gm at pH° 5, which could not be explained by an increase in passive Cl− or K+ conductance. Evidence consistent with an electrogenic Cl−/2H+ symport in freshwater-grown C. buckellii at pH° 5 and 7 is also presented.