Electrodiffusion model simulation of the potassium channel

Carl L Gardner; Jeremiah R Jones

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.09.010

Electrodiffusion model simulation of the potassium channel

J Theor Biol. 2011 Dec 21:291:10-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.09.010. Epub 2011 Sep 19.

Authors

Carl L Gardner¹, Jeremiah R Jones

Affiliation

¹ School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287, United States. gardner@math.asu.edu

PMID: 21945149
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.09.010

Abstract

The drift-diffusion (Poisson-Nernst-Planck) model is applied to the potassium channel in a biological membrane plus surrounding solution baths. Two-dimensional cylindrically symmetric simulations of the K channel in KCl solutions are presented which show significant boundary layers at the ends of the channel and display the spreading of charge into the bath regions. The computed current-voltage curve shows excellent agreement with experimental measurements. In addition, the response of the K channel to time-dependent applied voltages is investigated.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Diffusion
Electric Conductivity
Electric Stimulation
Ion Channel Gating / physiology
Models, Biological*
Potassium Channels / physiology*
Potassium Chloride

Substances

Potassium Channels
Potassium Chloride