Summary
The effect of different concentrations of the antibiotic, valinomycin, was determined on42K efflux and Na, K content of embryonic chick hearts. Valinomycin produces an increase of K efflux which is progressive in time and markedly dependent on the concentration of external K (0–5 mM) and valinomycin (10−8 to 10−5M). The change in K efflux is not due to a reversal of the Na−K pump mechanism, secondary to ATP depletion: i) the increase of K efflux by valinomycin persists in the absence of external Na ions. ii) analyses of Na and K content and42K influx measurements with and without valinomycin indicate that active K influx is not inhibited in a solution containing 0.5 mM K and only slightly decreased in a solution containing 5 mM K. Valinomycin, acting as a K carrier, presumably increases K conductance of the cell membrane resulting in a rise in K efflux.
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Carmeliet, E.E., Lieberman, M. Increase of potassium flux by valinomycin in embryonic chick heart. Pflugers Arch. 358, 243–257 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00587221
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00587221