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Abstract
In this paper I describe the occurrence and properties of a subconductance state of
the cation-selective channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The substate conductance
is 60% of the major state conductance in every salt solution examined. When single
channel conductance is plotted vs. ion concentration (for potassium or thallium salt
solutions) the Michaelis-Menten constant is nearly the same for both conductance states,
while the maximum conductance is reduced for the subconductance state. Both conductance
states show anomalous conductance behavior in mixed potassium-thallium solutions that
may be modeled in the same way. These results indicate that the ionic selectivity
of the channel is the same for both open states.