Computing Transient Gating Charge Movement of Voltage-Dependent Ion Channels

The opening of voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium ion channels has a steep relationship with voltage. In response to changes in the transmembrane voltage, structural movements of an ion channel that precede channel opening generate a capacitative gating current. The net gating charge displacement due to membrane depolarizationisanindexofthevoltagesensitivityoftheionchannelactivationprocess.Understandingthemolecular basis of voltage-dependent gating of ion channels requires the measurement and computation of the gating charge, Q. We derive a simple and accurate semianalytic approach to computing the voltage dependence of transient gating charge movement (Q

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2002
• Where: JCNS
• Authors: Anthony Varghese, Linda M. Boland
• Keywords: Gating, Gating Charge, Ion Channels, JCNS 2002