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Electrostatics and gating of excitable membranes
Author(s) -
Lundström Ingemar,
Nylander Claes
Publication year - 1983
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.560230416
Subject(s) - membrane , gating , electrostatics , ion , chemical physics , ion channel , chemistry , permeability (electromagnetism) , membrane potential , dielectric , materials science , biophysics , optoelectronics , biochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry , biology
Abstract Two electrostatic models for ion permeability of membranes are considered. In the first model ions pass hydrated through the membrane and in the second model ions pass unhydrated through a channel lined with polar groups. In both cases it is found that it is not necessary to assume a high macroscopic dielectric constant of the membrane or channel to provide a low enough potential energy of the ion in the membrane. Gating of excitable membranes is considered a special case of electrostatic interaction in membranes. A simple physical model which fits with Hodgkin and Huxley's empirical relation is derived. Finally, we have speculated upon other membrane bound biological phenomena where electrostatic effects may be important.