Figure 5.

Metal bridge formation slows channel closure signifying stabilization of the open-activated channel conformation. (A) Representative current traces from an oocyte expressing Kv1.2-R294H-A351H-D352G-E353S channels recorded in the absence (left) and presence (right) of 1 μM Zn²⁺. Bath solution contained 50 mM K⁺ in order to visualize inward tail currents. (B) Plot of time constant for deactivation versus voltage for channels recorded in the absence (solid squares) or presence (open circles) of 1 μM Zn²⁺ (n = 7 each). Tail currents were fitted with a single exponential and the time constant of deactivation (τ, ms) plotted on a log scale against voltage.