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Neural membrane field effects in a cytoskeleton corral: Microdomain regulation of impulse propagation
Author(s) -
Wallace Ron
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of quantum chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-461X
pISSN - 0020-7608
DOI - 10.1002/qua.20257
Subject(s) - lipid microdomain , cytoskeleton , impulse (physics) , ion channel , potassium channel , chemistry , gating , membrane , biophysics , inward rectifier potassium ion channel , channel (broadcasting) , physics , biology , biochemistry , computer science , classical mechanics , telecommunications , cell , receptor
This article proposes that electrostatic interaction between transiently polarized neural‐membrane ethenes and charged residues of an unfolded ion‐channel protein regulate channel closing and electrical signaling in neurons. Field effects are confined by a cytoskeleton corral that gates movement of membrane lipids from one corralled region to another. Cytoskeleton gating permits stepwise changes in the concentration of unsaturated lipids and thereby modulates ion‐channel activity. The system is hypothesized to operate at axonal branch points where impulse conduction has a low safety factor. Throughout the discussion the A‐current delayed‐rectifier potassium channel is used as an example. Implications of the model for molecular networks are briefly discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004