Determination of some electrophysiological properties of amphotericin B cationic channel incorporated in bilayer lipid membrane

Amphotericin B (AmB) is the main antibiotic of polyene type, which is widely used in the treatment of systemic fungal infections. One of the key mechanisms of this drug is the formation of ion channels and increasing permeability of the host cell membranes. This study was conducted to evaluate some of the electrophysiological characteristics of cationic single-channel formed by the incorporation of AmB in bilayer lipid membrane (BLM).

In this experimental study, phosphatidyl choline was extracted from fresh egg yolk. After the formation of BLM and the incorporation of AmB in the membrane, the channel activity was recorded through +40 to -40 millivolt (mV) voltages. Data analysis was conducted using PClamp10 software to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of the channel.

Reverse potential of Amphotericin B ion Channel was-36 mV. The Channel activity was more in such positive voltages. This means that in voltage -40 mV the current amplitude was 2 Pico Ampère but in voltage +40 mV reach to 30 Pico Ampère. In addition, the channel open probability at voltage -30 mV voltage was low (less than 0.15) but increased to 0.75 in voltage +40 mV. The channel conductance was also 157±4.9 Picoseimence.

AmB forms cationic channels in BLMs with phosphatidylcholine and without cholesterol. This channel has voltage-dependent electrophysiological characteristics and behaviors.