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Poisson–Nernst–Planck Theory of Ion Permeation Through Biological Channels

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Biological Membrane Ion Channels

Part of the book series: Biological And Medical Physics Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

The kinetics of an assembly of charged particles such as electrons, ions, or colloids, particularly when subjected to externally applied electric fields, has been of interest for many years and in many disciplines. In applied physics and electrical engineering, the motion of electrons and holes through semiconductor materials under the influence of an applied voltage plays an essential role in the function of modern electronic components such as transistors, diodes, and infrared lasers (Peyghambarian et al., 1993). Electrochemistry deals in large part with the motion of simple inorganic ions (e.g., Na+, Cl-) in electrolytic solutions and how this motion is influenced when electrodes are employed to generate an electric potential drop across the solution or a membrane interface (Bockris and Reddy, 1998). Larger macroions such as charged polystyrene spheres (radius 0.1–1 micron) can also be manipulated using applied electric fields (Ise and Yoshida, 1996). Many processes in molecular biology, from self-assembly of DNA strands into bundles (Wissenburg et al., 1995) to enzymeligand docking (Gilson et al., 1994), are steered by electrostatic forces between biological macroions which are mediated by the response of simple salt ions in the solution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213

    Rob D. Coalson

  2. Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213

    Maria G. Kurnikova

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  1. Rob D. Coalson
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  2. Maria G. Kurnikova
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Res. School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

    Shin-Ho Chung

  2. Weill Medical College Dept. Physiology, Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Olaf S. Andersen

  3. Dept. of Elect. & Comp. Engi., University of British Columbia, MacLeod Bulding, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Vikram Krishnamurthy

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Coalson, R.D., Kurnikova, M.G. (2007). Poisson–Nernst–Planck Theory of Ion Permeation Through Biological Channels. In: Chung, SH., Andersen, O.S., Krishnamurthy, V. (eds) Biological Membrane Ion Channels. Biological And Medical Physics Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-68919-2_13

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