Chloride distribution in erythrocytes measured by NMR

Full text: We have adapted a 35Cl NMR technique for time-dependent measurement of the chloride distribution across the erythrocyte membrane. The major conduit for anion transport in these cells is capnophorin but two other cotransporters capable of transporting chloride (the K+/Cl- and the Na+/K+/2Cl-) also exist. We are interested in the calcium-activated potassium transporter (the Gardos channel) of the erythrocyte. The questions we have asked are: What is the effect on the chloride distribution in the presence/absence of a capnophorin inhibitor (such as DIDS) following activation of the Gardos channel? And to what extent can the co-transporters compensate for the transmembrane charge imbalance created by K+ movement through the Gardos channel? Findings suggest that even in the presence of inhibitors of all Cl- transport pathways there is a a chloride efflux concomitant with that of potassium