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Biological effects of oscillating electric fields: Role of voltage‐sensitive ion channels
Author(s) -
Cain Charles A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.2250020104
Subject(s) - electric field , conductance , voltage , gating , relaxation (psychology) , ion , electric potential , ion channel , membrane potential , chemistry , physics , biophysics , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , receptor , biology
An alternating component of potential across the membrane of an excitable cell may change the membrane conductance by interacting with the voltagesensing charged groups of the protein macromolecules that form voltage‐sensitive ion channels. Because the probability that a voltage sensor is in a given state is a highly nonlinear function of the applied electric field, the average occupancy of a particular state will change in an oscillating electric field of sufficient magnitude. This “rectification” at the level of the voltage sensors could result in conformational changes (gating) that would modify channel conductance. A simplified two‐state model is examined where the relaxation time of the voltage sensor is assumed to be considerably faster than the fastest changes of ionic conductance. Significant changes in the occupancy of voltage sensor states in response to an applied oscillating electric field are predicted by the model.