Electrophysiological Characterization of Na,K-ATPases Expressed in Xenopus laevis Oocytes Using Two-Electrode Voltage Clamping.

The transport of three Na(+) per two K(+) means that the Na,K-ATPase is electrogenic, and though the currents generated by the ion pump are small compared to ion channel currents, they can be measured using electrophysiology, both steady-state pumping and individual steps in the transport cycle. Various electrophysiological techniques have been used to study the endogenous pumps of the squid giant axon and of cardiac myocytes from for example rabbits. Here, we describe the characterization of heterologously expressed Na,K-ATPases using two-electrode voltage clamping (TEVC) and oocytes from the Xenopus laevis frog as the model cell. With this system, the effects of particular mutations can be studied, including the numerous mutations that in later years have been found to cause human diseases.