CODE 106981 ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024 CREDITS 3 cfu anno 3 SCIENZE BIOLOGICHE 8762 (L-13) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR BIO/04 TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 1° Semester TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB OVERVIEW Plant electrophysiology includes various experimental techniques for the investigation of plasma membrane and tonoplast ion channels and transporters and the study of the related electrical signals. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The course aims to introduce and experience the student to the most important electrophysiological techniques that allow the functional characterization of plant ion channels and transporters. The patch-clamp technique, in all configurations, and the two-electrode voltage-clamp (TECV) technique applied to Xenopus oocytes will be investigated together with the related theoretical aspects. Furthermore, the structural and functional characteristics of the main families of plant ion channels and transporters localized both on the plasma and on the vacuolar membrane will be presented. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES Attendance and active participation in the proposed educational activities (lectures and laboratory activities) and individual study will enable the student to: - to know the theoretical and experimental aspects of membrane potential recordings in plant cells; - to know the theoretical and experimental aspects of the heterologous expression of ion channels and transporters in Xenopus oocytes and of the relative technique of the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp (TECV); - to know the theoretical and experimental aspects of the patch-clamp technique. TEACHING METHODS Lectures and laboratory activities. SYLLABUS/CONTENT Elements of electrophysiology: fundamental constants, resistance and membrane capacitance. Ions in aqueous solution: electrochemical potential and the Nernst equation. Functional characteristics of plant ion channels and transporters. The membrane potential: hyperpolarization and depolarization. What is the voltage-clamp. The theory of the patch-clamp technique. Main families of plant ion channels and transporters. Laboratory activities: membrane potential recordings in plant cells, the TECV and the patch-clamp technique. RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY - Sakmann, B. and Neher, E. (1995). Single-channel recording 2nd ed. (Plenum Press - New York and London). - Hille B (2001) Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes, Third Edition. Oxford University Press - R. Hedrich, Ion channels in plants, Physiol. Rev. 92 (2012) 1777–1811 TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD ARMANDO CARPANETO Ricevimento: Wednesday 11-12 am, recommended by appointment (email address: armando.carpaneto@unige.it). Exam Board ARMANDO CARPANETO (President) MAURO MARIOTTI LESSONS Class schedule ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION Oral examination. ASSESSMENT METHODS The oral examination will focus on the topics covered during the lectures and on the contents addressed in the laboratory. The student will prepare a short computer presentation of about 15 minutes on recent scientific publications selected by the professor.