dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaIons in Fluctuating Channels: Transistors Alive
| Authors | Bob Eisenberg |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0506016 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0506016 |
| DOI | 10.1142/S0219477512400019 |
| Journal | Fluctuations and Noise Letters (2012) 11:76-96 |
| License | http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/ |
Abstract
Ion channels are proteins with a hole down the middle embedded in cell membranes. Membranes form insulating structures and the channels through them allow and control the movement of charged particles, spherical ions, mostly Na+, K+, Ca++, and Cl-. Membranes contain hundreds or thousands of types of channels, fluctuating between open conducting, and closed insulating states. Channels control an enormous range of biological function by opening and closing in response to specific stimuli using mechanisms that are not yet understood in physical language. Open channels conduct current of charged particles following laws of Brownian movement of charged spheres rather like the laws of electrodiffusion of quasi-particles in semiconductors. Open channels select between similar ions using a combination of electrostatic and 'crowded charge' (Lennard-Jones) forces. The specific location of atoms and the exact atomic structure of the channel protein seems much less important than certain properties of the structure, namely the volume accessible to ions and the effective density of fixed and polarization charge. There is no sign of other chemical effects like delocalization of electron orbitals between ions and the channel protein. Channels play a role in biology as important as transistors in computers, and they use rather similar physics to perform part of that role. Understanding their fluctuations awaits physical insight into the source of the variance and mathematical analysis of the coupling of the fluctuations to the other components and forces of the system.
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"abstract": "Ion channels are proteins with a hole down the middle embedded in cell\nmembranes. Membranes form insulating structures and the channels through them\nallow and control the movement of charged particles, spherical ions, mostly\nNa+, K+, Ca++, and Cl-. Membranes contain hundreds or thousands of types of\nchannels, fluctuating between open conducting, and closed insulating states.\nChannels control an enormous range of biological function by opening and\nclosing in response to specific stimuli using mechanisms that are not yet\nunderstood in physical language. Open channels conduct current of charged\nparticles following laws of Brownian movement of charged spheres rather like\nthe laws of electrodiffusion of quasi-particles in semiconductors. Open\nchannels select between similar ions using a combination of electrostatic and\n\u0027crowded charge\u0027 (Lennard-Jones) forces. The specific location of atoms and the\nexact atomic structure of the channel protein seems much less important than\ncertain properties of the structure, namely the volume accessible to ions and\nthe effective density of fixed and polarization charge. There is no sign of\nother chemical effects like delocalization of electron orbitals between ions\nand the channel protein. Channels play a role in biology as important as\ntransistors in computers, and they use rather similar physics to perform part\nof that role. Understanding their fluctuations awaits physical insight into the\nsource of the variance and mathematical analysis of the coupling of the\nfluctuations to the other components and forces of the system.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0506016",
"authors": [
"Bob Eisenberg"
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"doi": "10.1142/S0219477512400019",
"journal_ref": "Fluctuations and Noise Letters (2012) 11:76-96",
"license": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
"title": "Ions in Fluctuating Channels: Transistors Alive",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0506016"
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