Abstract:To understand the mechanism of K+ uptake and the regulated factors,patch clamp whole-cell recording techniques were applied to isolated tobacco root cortex protoplasts.The results showed that the inward current were activated by K+ into root cortex at membrane potentials more negative than-40 mV.The inward currents were strongly inhibited by the K+-channel blocker TEA+ kinetic analysis of the inward currents yielded an apparent K+ equilibrium dissociation constant(Km) of≈15.2 mmol/L,which closely correlated to the major component of low-affinity K+ uptake.The inward K+-channels were sensitive to NH4+ and NH4+ was acted on a bin-(ding) site external to the channel pore.The inward currents were inhibited differently by Ca2+ and Mg2+.It is suggested that the inward K+ channels in root cortex may function as both a physiologically important mechanism for low-affinity K+ uptake and regulators of membrane potentials.