September 12, 2001 Greetings to all the Channelab supporters! This newsletter informs the users of Channelab about the updates and changes in the program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The new version of Channelab (v. 1.090101) is just released! The latest version boasts over 50, ready-to-use single channel kinetic models for various ion channels including GABA, Ach, AMPA, kainate, NMDA, P2X, 5HT and calcium-induced Cl channels. You will enjoy many powerful new features, enhancements, and improvements in this version. If you perform, single channel recordings, excised patch recordings, noise analysis, or want to correlate single channel behavior to whole cell response, you must try this program. Please visit our website at http://www.synaptosoft.com/ to try the demo. For all registered users, this version is freely available for upgrade. Here are the list of topics in this newsletter; 1. More single channel kinetic models 2. Stationary variance and spectral noise analysis 3. Equilibrium probabilities 4. Spectral fitting and analysis of open/shut time histograms 5. Enhanced compatilbility 6. Future release of v2, scheduled for December 2001: non-linear least squares fitting of model to experimental waveforms 7. Satelite symposium at Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2001 in San Diego --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. More single channel kinetic models In addition to previous models, more models are added for recombinant nicotinic receptors, recombinant 5-HT3 serotonin receptors, recombinant AMPA receptorsNeuronal NMDA receptors, neuronal GABA receptors, and Ca-activated Cl- channels, Models also have direct web links for original publications. With over 50 kinetic single channel models (more to come), now any user can open a model for these receptors and simulate single channel trace, or whole cell currents on the basis of the model. For complete list of single channel kinetic models that Channelab support, visit our website at http://www.synaptosoft.com/Channelab/Models.html. In order to open these models in Channelab, run File->Load Published Model command. 2. Stationary variance and spectral noise analysis Channelab now adds a comprehensive analysis tool for stationary noise analysis. Users can easily obtain probability of opening and total number of channels from whole cell currents. User simply highlight the trace, generate a variance-mean plot, fit the plot for unitary conductance using least-square fit. Channelab offers the most complete fitting features for fitting of variance-mean plot. You will get single channel info from your whole cell currents at a snap. Users can also simulate variance-Popen plots for multiple conductance levels and compare with the experimental traces. You won't find anything like this in the market. 3. Equilibrium probabilities The equilibrium probabilities of occupancy of all states can be calculated at any time point for concentration dependent models. 4. Spectral fitting and analysis of open/shut time histograms. Power spectrum can be generated for simulated or experimental data to determine the frequency components in the data traces. The spectrum can be fitted to a single or 2-component Lorentzian function. 5. Enhanced compatilbility The new version has been extensively tested for compatibility with Win2000. Opening and saving of ABF files (Axon Instruments pClamp file formats) have been improved.. Now the program supports Import and export of model files (*.mdl) for QUB software. Users can export open and shut times as QUB-compatible *.dwt files 6. Future release of v2, scheduled for December 2001: non-linear least squares fitting of model to experimental waveforms. The next round of upgrade is being extensively tested now. It will include non-linear fitting of single channel kinetic model to multiple sweep experimental waveforms. For example, user will be able to record multiple sweeps of NMDA receptor channels at different holding potentials and fit these sweeps to the NMDA channel kinetic model. This means that if you have experimental waveforms, you can predict which channel subtype is responsible for the currents. This version will be available towards the end of this year. 7. Satelite symposium at Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2001 in San Diego Title: Analyzing Spontaneous Activities with Mini Analysis Program and Single Channel Kinetics with Channelab Date: 11/10/01 (November 10, 2001) Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Setup: 100 people Please find more information in the Program booklet. The last year's symposium was a great success with close to 100 attendees. Thanks for all of your support. This year the symposium will be divided into two parts. In the first part, Justin Lee will discuss the new features of Mini Analysis Program. And in the second part, Steve Traynelis will go over the features of Channelab, our single channel analysis and modeling program. The symposium will be held in a room for at least 100 people. There is no reservation required, but last year we ran out seats and had some people standing in the back. So please be prompt. Like last year there will be a sign up sheet for attendees and anyone signs up will be entitled for a free copy of Easy Articles. More detailed description of the event will be available before the neuroscience meeting. Since there has been major changes in the program, current users should perform full installation for upgrade. Make shure, you install it into the same directory as the previous version. After downloading, you should exit the Channelab program and start the downloaded exe file in order to initiate the upgrading procedure. Then restart the program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you haven't try the demo, please visit us at http://www.synaptosoft.com, download the demo, and try! *****Channelab is a product of joint effort by all of the users. If you have any suggestions, please let us know, we will incorporate your ideas.****** For more information, visit our website at http://www.synaptosoft.com. If you wish to be removed from this newsletter mailing list please mailto: clab@synaptosoft.com. Synaptosoft Inc. 107 Irving Street Leonia, NJ 07605 phone: 201-592-7034 fax: 201-592-7034 http://www.synaptosoft.com http://www.MiniAnalysis.com http://www.PeakAnalysis.com http://www.EasyArticles.com http://www.Channelab.com ftp://ftp.synaptosoft.com mailto:clab@synaptosoft.com