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TheChara plasmalemma at high pH. Electrical measurements show rapid specific passive uniport of H+ or OH−

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Summary

Above a critical external pH (about 10.5), theChara membrane acquires new propertes. In this state the membrane potential is close to the equilibrium potentials for H+ and OH−, hyperpolarizing as external pH increases with a slope of −59 mV/pH unit. The membrane conductance increases by an average factor of 2.4 above the critical pH. These changes are explained by an increase in permeability to OH− (or H+). The establishment of a OH− (or H+ permeable membrane at high pH suggests that the large fluxes of OH− (or H+ which occur in the alkaline band in photosynthesizing cells are passive.

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia

    M. A. Bisson & N. A. Walker

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  1. M. A. Bisson
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  2. N. A. Walker
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Bisson, M.A., Walker, N.A. TheChara plasmalemma at high pH. Electrical measurements show rapid specific passive uniport of H+ or OH− . J. Membrain Biol. 56, 1–7 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869346

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869346

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