Biology – Quantitative Biology – Subcellular Processes
Scientific paper
2009-08-10
Phys Rev E, 81, 051912, 2010
Biology
Quantitative Biology
Subcellular Processes
43 pages, 6 figures, revised version
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevE.81.051912
It has been suggested that microtubules and other cytoskeletal filaments may act as electrical transmission lines. An electrical circuit model of the microtubule is constructed incorporating features of its cylindrical structure with nanopores in its walls. This model is used to study how ionic conductance along the lumen is affected by flux through the nanopores when an external potential is applied across its two ends. Based on the results of Brownian dynamics simulations, the nanopores were found to have asymmetric inner and outer conductances, manifested as nonlinear IV curves. Our simulations indicate that a combination of this asymmetry and an internal voltage source arising from the motion of the C-terminal tails causes a net current to be pumped across the microtubule wall and propagate down the microtubule through the lumen. This effect is demonstrated to enhance and add directly to the longitudinal current through the lumen resulting from an external voltage source, and could be significant in amplifying low-intensity endogenous currents within the cellular environment or as a nano-bioelectronic device.
Carpenter Eric
Freedman Holly
Noskovd Sergei Y.
Priel Avner
Rezania Vahid
No associations
LandOfFree
Model of ionic currents through microtubule nanopores and the lumen does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Model of ionic currents through microtubule nanopores and the lumen, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Model of ionic currents through microtubule nanopores and the lumen will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-120070