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An improved Poisson‐Nernst‐Planck ion channel model and numerical studies on effects of boundary conditions, membrane charges, and bulk concentrations
Author(s) -
Chao Zhen,
Xie Dexuan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of computational chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.907
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1096-987X
pISSN - 0192-8651
DOI - 10.1002/jcc.26723
Subject(s) - boundary value problem , ion , poisson's equation , ionic bonding , finite element method , chemistry , electrostatics , nernst equation , electric potential , membrane , chemical physics , mechanics , materials science , physics , voltage , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode
In this paper, an improved Poisson‐Nernst‐Planck ion channel (PNPic) model is presented, along with its effective finite element solver and software package for an ion channel protein in a solution of multiple ionic species. Numerical studies are then done on the effects of boundary value conditions, membrane charges, and bulk concentrations on electrostatics and ionic concentrations for an ion channel protein, a gramicidin A (gA), and five different ionic solvents with up to four species. Numerical results indicate that the cation selectivity property of gA occurs within a central portion of ion channel pore, insensitively to any change of boundary value condition, membrane charge, or bulk concentration. Moreover, a numerical scheme for computing the electric currents induced by ion transports across membrane via an ion channel pore is presented and implemented as a part of the PNPic finite element package. It is then applied to the calculation of current–voltage curves, well validating the PNPic model and finite element package by electric current experimental data.