All the members of the Washington University in St. Louis Cardiac Molecular Engineering Lab. A Burroughs Welcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface - 1010299 (to J.S.).

<ol>
	<li>Kalstrup, T., Blunck, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamics+of+internal+pore+opening+in+KV+channels+probed+by+a+fluorescent+unnatural+amino+acid.">Dynamics of internal pore opening in KV channels probed by a fluorescent unnatural amino acid.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 110, 8272-8277 (2013).</li><li>Stefani, E., Bezanilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cut-open+oocyte+voltage-clamp+technique.">Cut-open oocyte voltage-clamp technique.</a> Methods Enzymol. 293, 300-318 (1998).</li><li>Muroi, Y., Chanda, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Local+anesthetics+disrupt+energetic+coupling+between+the+voltage-sensing+segments+of+a+sodium+channel.">Local anesthetics disrupt energetic coupling between the voltage-sensing segments of a sodium channel.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 133, 1-15 (2009).</li><li>Stefani, E., Toro, L., Perozo, E., Bezanilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gating+of+Shaker+K++channels:+I.+Ionic+and+gating+currents.">Gating of Shaker K+ channels: I. Ionic and gating currents.</a> Biophys. J. 66, 996-1010 (1994).</li><li>Wang, S., Liu, S., Morales, M. J., Strauss, H. C., Rasmusson, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+quantitative+analysis+of+the+activation+and+inactivation+kinetics+of+HERG+expressed+in+Xenopus+oocytes.">A quantitative analysis of the activation and inactivation kinetics of HERG expressed in Xenopus oocytes.</a> J. Physiolt. 502 (Pt 1), 45-60 (1997).</li><li>Neely, A., Garcia-Olivares, J., Voswinkel, S., Horstkott, H., Hidalgo, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Folding+of+active+calcium+channel+beta(1b)+-subunit+by+size-exclusion+chromatography+and+its+role+on+channel+function.">Folding of active calcium channel beta(1b) -subunit by size-exclusion chromatography and its role on channel function.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 279, 21689-21694 (2004).</li><li>Silva, J. R., Goldstein, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Voltage-sensor+movements+describe+slow+inactivation+of+voltage-gated+sodium+channels+I:+wild-type+skeletal+muscle.">Voltage-sensor movements describe slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels I: wild-type skeletal muscle.</a> Na(V)1.4. J. Gen. Physiol. 141, 309-321 (2013).</li><li>Silva, J. R., Goldstein, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Voltage-sensor+movements+describe+slow+inactivation+of+voltage-gated+sodium+channels+II:+a+periodic+paralysis+mutation+in+Na(V)1.4+(L689I).">Voltage-sensor movements describe slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels II: a periodic paralysis mutation in Na(V)1.4 (L689I).</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 141, 323-334 (2013).</li><li>Taglialatela, M., Toro, L., Stefani, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+voltage+clamp+to+record+small,+fast+currents+from+ion+channels+expressed+in+Xenopus+oocytes.">Novel voltage clamp to record small, fast currents from ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.</a> Biophys. J. 61, 78-82 (1992).</li><li>Clare, J. J., Trezise, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Expression and analysis of recombinant ion channels : from structural studies to pharmacological screening. , (2006).</li><li>Cha, A., Zerangue, N., Kavanaugh, M., Bezanilla, F., Susan, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Methods in enzymology. 296, 566-578 (1998).</li><li>Lakowicz, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Principles of fluorescence spectroscopy. 3rd edn. , (2006).</li><li>Cha, A., Bezanilla, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterizing+voltage-dependent+conformational+changes+in+the+Shaker+K++channel+with+fluorescence.">Characterizing voltage-dependent conformational changes in the Shaker K+ channel with fluorescence.</a> Neuron. 19, 1127-1140 (1997).</li><li>Richards, R., Dempski, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Examining+the+conformational+dynamics+of+membrane+proteins+in+situ+with+site-directed+fluorescence+labeling.">Examining the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins in situ with site-directed fluorescence labeling.</a> J. Vis. Exp. , (2011).</li><li>Cohen, S., Au, S., Pante, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microinjection+of+Xenopus+laevis+oocytes.">Microinjection of Xenopus laevis oocytes.</a> J. Vis. Exp. , (2009).</li><li>Raynauld, J. P., Laviolette, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+silver-silver+chloride+electrode:+a+possible+generator+of+offset+voltages+and+currents.">The silver-silver chloride electrode: a possible generator of offset voltages and currents.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 19, 249-255 (1987).</li><li>Gagnon, D. G., Bissonnette, P., Lapointe, J. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+a+disulfide+bridge+linking+the+fourth+and+the+seventh+extracellular+loops+of+the+Na+/glucose+cotransporter.">Identification of a disulfide bridge linking the fourth and the seventh extracellular loops of the Na+/glucose cotransporter.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 127, 145-158 (2006).</li><li>Pantazis, A., Olcese, R., Roberts, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Cut-Open Oocyte Voltage-Clamp Technique. In: Roberts G. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Biophysics: SpringerReference. , (2013).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The cut-open oocyte Vaseline gap voltage clamp technique allows for rapid resolution of data, low noise, increased control over internal solution and external solution composition, and stable recordings over relatively long protocols19. These advantages set this technique apart from the standard two-electrode voltage clamp and patch clamp techniques. Although specialized equipment is required and the protocol is relatively difficult, very few issues occur once the system has been optimized. This allows for rep...

Specialized voltage clamping techniques permit the recording of ionic currents at controlled membrane potentials. Widely used two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) and patch clamp techniques provide reliable electrophysiological information on the properties of many ion channels. However, both of these methods have drawbacks that prevent the acquisition of reliable data for fast voltage-gated sodium channels and other fast activating channels in membranes such as those of Xenopus oocytes. The Bezanilla and Stefani laboratories consequently developed the cut-open Vaseline gap voltage clamp technique (COVG) for oocytes2. The technique has been applied widely to record, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ channels3-8.
During COVG recording, a heterologous protein-expressing oocyte membrane is divided into three regions. The ionic current data is recorded from the top region of the oocyte as the bath surrounding the top region is clamped to a command potential, which can be easily and quickly changed. The middle region guards against leakage currents by being clamped to the same potential as the top region9. The bottom region is where oocyte opening (cut-open) occurs through the use of a saponin solution or a cannula. Chemical or manual opening of the membrane in the bottom region allows control of the internal potential, which is clamped to ground, and renders the cell interior contiguous with the lower chamber solution. Perfusion of solutions into the lower chamber can adjust the properties of the internal environment, whereas solution exchange in the top chamber alters the external surroundings. 
<img alt="Figure 1" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51040/51040fig1highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51040/51040fig1.jpg" width="500px" /> 
Figure 1. Oocyte Cut-Open Voltage-Clamp Bath Setup Diagram. (A) Top down view of the three baths separated from each other. The dimensions of the chambers for COVG are displayed on the figure. (B) Side view of the baths setup in testing position. <a href="http://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/51040/51040fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">Click here to view larger image</a>.
The advantages of the COVG technique include low current noise (1 nA at 3 kHz), control of the ionic composition of the external media, the ability to modulate the internal media, fast time resolution (20-100 &#956;sec time constant of decay of the capacity transient), and stable recordings for several hours9. The disadvantages are that it requires specialized equipment and it is more difficult to perform compared to two electrode voltage clamping (TEVC)10.
While the COVG approach requires highly specialized equipment and intricate procedural elements, it can allow for the acquisition of valuable electrophysiological data. This data, such as gating currents with fast kinetics and tail currents4, can be recorded without some of the issues associated with other voltage clamping protocols including channel run-down. Minor modifications to the COVG setup can allow for the use of temperature controllers and voltage clamp fluorometry (VCF). The inclusion of voltage clamp fluorometry elements within the COVG assembly can augment data output by conferring the ability to monitor protein conformational changes while simultaneously recording current11-13.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="515">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">External Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Brand</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">[Final], weight, or volume</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M2004</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">25mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">MES Sodium Salt</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M5057</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">90mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">H75030</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">20mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Calcium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">239232</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">2mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">MES Hydrate</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M8250</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">variable (pH to 7.4)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Internal Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M2004</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">105mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">MES Sodium Salt</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M5057</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">10mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">H75030</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">20mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:189px;">Ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">E4378</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">2mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">MES Hydrate</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M8250</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">variable (pH to 7.4)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Depolarizing Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">KCl</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">221473</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">110mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Magnesium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M8266</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">1.5mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Caisson</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">C021</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">0.8mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">H75030</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">10mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Pipet Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">KCl</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">221473</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">3M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:189px;">Saponin Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Saponin</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">47036</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">0.125g</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Internal Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">See above</td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;">50mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Agar Bridge Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG)</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M2004</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">100ml of 1M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">H75030</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">1.2g</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">MES Hydrate</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">M8250</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">variable (pH to 7.4)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">Granulated Agar</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:72px;">A20250</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:124px;">3%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;"></td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">NMDG Storage Solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:189px;">NMDG, HEPES, MES Hydrate solution</td>
			<td style="width:131px;">see above</td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;">40ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:189px;">Water</td>
			<td style="width:131px;"></td>
			<td style="width:72px;"></td>
			<td style="width:124px;">60ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">High Performance Oocyte Clamp</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">CA-1B</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Data Acquisition System</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Axon CNS</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">&#160;Digidata 1440A</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Oscilloscope</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Tektronix&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">TDS 210</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Rack Power Filter</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">APC&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">G5</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:149px;">Heating/Cooling Bath Temperature Controller</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">HCC-100A</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">PC</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dell</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Optiplex 990</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">pCLAMP 10.3 Voltage Clamp Software</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Molecular Devices, LLC</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">pCLAMP10.3</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:149px;">TMC Vibration Control TableTop Platform</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">TMC</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">64 SERIES</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">TMC Vibration Control Air Table</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">TMC</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"><a name="RANGE!C10">20 Series&#160;</a></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">V1/I Electrode Data Collector</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">part of CA-1B</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">MX10L Micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Siskiyou</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">MX10L</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:149px;">Bath/Guard (I/V) Headstage (with appropriate connectors)</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">part of CA-1B</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Omano</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">OM2300S-JW11</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:149px;">Temperature Control Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom or Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Custom or HE-204C</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom chamber made from materials from Cool Polymers (D-series). Dagan also provides a prefeabricated stage (HE-204C).</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Custom AgCl Pellet Container</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom machined</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Ag/AgCl electrode, pellet, 2.0 mm</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Warner</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">E-206</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">External Oocyte Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom or Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Custom or CC-1-T-LB</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom machined or purchased from Dagan</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Internal Oocyte Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom or Dagan</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Custom or CC-TG-ND</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom machined or purchased from Dagan</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:149px;">Capillaries for Agar Bridges and Pulled Electrodes</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Warner</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">G150T-4</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:149px;">Rotatable Mounts for the Microscope, Micromanipulator, and Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Siskiyou</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">SD-1280P</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Fiber-Lite</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Dolan-Jenner</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">LMI-600</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Regular Bleach</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Clorox</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">470174-764</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Xenopus laevis Oocytes</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Nasco</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">LM535M (sexually mature females)</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:149px;">90 Na+ External Solution</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">See Solutions sheet</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:149px;">10 Na+ Internal Solution</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">See Solutions sheet</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">3 M KCL</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">See Solutions sheet</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Saponin</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">47036</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">NMDG Storage Solution</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">See Solutions sheet</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">5mL transfer pipets</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">SciMart</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">GS-52</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:149px;">Modified KCl electrode injector</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">309659</td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Plastic syringe tip melted to allow for injection of solution into electrodes. Alternatively, a Microfil by WPI can be purchased.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Microvaccum</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">Forceps</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">63040-458</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Oocyte Handling Tools (Pipette Pump)</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">53502-222</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Deionized Water Squirt Bottle</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">16649-911</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Vaseline Petroleum Jelly</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">19-086-291&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;"></td>
			<td style="width:148px;"></td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:149px;">Additional Materials Required for VCF Recordings:</td>
			<td style="width:148px;"></td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:149px;">VCF Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Eclipse FN1</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Nikon CFI APO 40XW NIR Objective</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">N40X-NIR</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:149px;">X-Y Translator System for Fixed-Stage Upright Microscopes</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Sutter Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">MT500-586</td>
			<td style="width:285px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">External VCF Oocyte Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom machined. The chamber dimensions are 2.7 x 1.9 x 0.4 cm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:149px;">Internal VCF Oocyte Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom machined. The chamber dimensions are 1.6 x 1.6 x 0.4 cm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="126">
			<td height="126" style="height:126px;width:149px;">Modified Temperature Control Bath</td>
			<td style="width:148px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:144px;"></td>
			<td style="width:285px;">Custom chamber made from materials from Cool Polymers (D-series). The chamber dimensions of the modified temperature controller bath are 2.7 x 1.9 x 0.3 cm for the horizontal chamber, and 1 x 2.5 x 0.5 cm for the vertical chamber.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the xenopus oocyte cut-open vaseline gap voltage-clamp technique with fluorometry

The cut-open oocyte Vaseline gap (COVG) voltage clamp technique allows for analysis of electrophysiological and kinetic properties of heterologous ion channels in oocytes. Recordings from the cut-open setup are particularly useful for resolving low magnitude gating currents, rapid ionic current activation, and deactivation. The main benefits over the two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) technique include increased clamp speed, improved signal-to-noise ratio, and the ability to modulate the intracellular and extracellular milieu.
Here, we employ the human cardiac sodium channel (hNaV1.5), expressed in Xenopus oocytes, to demonstrate the cut-open setup and protocol as well as modifications that are required to add voltage clamp fluorometry capability.
The properties of fast activating ion channels, such as hNaV1.5, cannot be fully resolved near room temperature using TEVC, in which the entirety of the oocyte membrane is clamped, making voltage control difficult. However, in the cut-open technique, isolation of only a small portion of the cell membrane allows for the rapid clamping required to accurately record fast kinetics while preventing channel run-down associated with patch clamp techniques.
In conjunction with the COVG technique, ion channel kinetics and electrophysiological properties can be further assayed by using voltage clamp fluorometry, where protein motion is tracked via cysteine conjugation of extracellularly applied fluorophores, insertion of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, or the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into the region of interest1. This additional data yields kinetic information about voltage-dependent conformational rearrangements of the protein via changes in the microenvironment surrounding the fluorescent molecule.

Figure 4 displays the change in permeability of the oocyte as a saponin solution is applied to the bottom section of the oocyte. Figure 5 demonstrates the rate of intracellular solution exchange by diffusion following saponin permeabilization. 20-40 min&#160;are required to come to a steady-state2,18.
Figure 6A show traces generated from the recording protocol. The figure shows ionic currents (after P/-8 leak subtraction) in respons...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Xenopus Oocyte Cut-open Vaseline Gap Voltage-clamp Technique With Fluorometry at JoVE.com

The Xenopus Oocyte Cut-open Vaseline Gap Voltage-clamp Technique With Fluorometry

The cut-open Vaseline gap approach is used to obtain low noise recordings of ionic and gating currents from voltage-dependent ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes with high resolution of fast channel kinetics. With minor modification, voltage clamp fluorometry can be coupled to the cut-open oocyte protocol.

The Xenopus Oocyte Cut-open Vaseline Gap Voltage-clamp Technique With Fluorometry

The cut-open oocyte Vaseline gap (COVG) voltage clamp technique allows for analysis of electrophysiological and kinetic properties of heterologous ion ...

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18.3K Views.  Washington University in St. Louis. The cut-open Vaseline gap approach is used to obtain low noise recordings of ionic and gating currents from voltage-dependent ion channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes with high resolution of fast channel kinetics. With minor modification, voltage clamp fluorometry can be coupled to the cut-open oocyte protocol.