27 - Discrimination of Kinetic Models of Ion Channel Gating

Abstract

This chapter focuses on kinetic models of ion channel gating. Analysis of ion channel gating kinetics has generally taken the form of Markov chain models in which channels exist in a few independent states and convert stochastically from one state to another via discrete jumps. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the possibility that Markov chain models are conceptually inaccurate, and that the gating behavior of ion channels may be better described by other sorts of models that are conceptually and mathematically distinct from Markov models. The simplest Markov model of channel gating has two states that correspond to times when the channel is closed—nonconducting—or open. Thus, there is a single transition rate from closed to open and one from open to closed. The chapter also discusses an approach according to which if more than one model is reasonable and useful, then the model that best describes the data is the model of choice.