Poisson-Nernst-Planck theory approach to the calculation of current through biological ion channels

Author

Coalson, Rob D. ; Kurnikova, Maria G.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Chem., Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Volume

4

Issue

1

fYear

2005

fDate

3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

81

Lastpage

93

Abstract

The Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) theory of electro-diffusion is reviewed. Techniques for numerical solution of the three-dimensional PNP equations are summarized, and several illustrative applications to ion transport through protein channels are presented. Strengths and weaknesses of the theory are discussed, as well as attempts to improve it via increasingly realistic evaluation of the force acting on each ion due to the protein/membrane environment.

Keywords

biodiffusion; bioelectric phenomena; biomembrane transport; molecular biophysics; proteins; reviews; Poisson-Nernst-Planck theory; biological ion channels; biomembrane; electro-diffusion; ion transport; protein channels; review; Biomembranes; Cells (biology); Chemistry; Dielectric liquids; Electric potential; Lipidomics; Modeling; Poisson equations; Protein engineering; Voltage; Biological system modeling; biomembranes; dielectric liquids; finite difference methods; potential of mean force; protein fluctuations; Animals; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane Permeability; Computer Simulation; Electric Conductivity; Gramicidin; Humans; Ion Channel Gating; Ion Channels; Lipid Bilayers; Membrane Potentials; Models, Biological; Models, Chemical; Porosity; Protein Conformation; Structure-Activity Relationship;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

NanoBioscience, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1536-1241

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNB.2004.842495

Filename

1402412