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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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