Abstract
The Artificial Axon is a unique synthetic system, based on biomolecular components, which supports action potentials. Here we examine, experimentally and theoretically, the properties of the threshold for firing in this system. As in real neurons, this threshold corresponds to the critical point of a saddle-node bifurcation. We measure the delay time for firing as a function of the distance to threshold, recovering the expected scaling exponent of −1/2. We introduce a minimal model of the Morris-Lecar type, validate it on the experiments, and use it to extend analytical results obtained in the limit of ‘fast’ ion channel dynamics. In particular, we discuss the dependence of the firing threshold on the number of channels. The Artificial Axon is a simplified system, an Ur-neuron, relying on only one ion channel species for functioning. Nonetheless, universal properties such as the action potential behavior near threshold are the same as in real neurons. Thus we may think of the Artificial Axon as a cell-free breadboard for electrophysiology research.
Highlights
Action potentials are an interesting dynamical system, but not easy to study due to the complexity of the neuron
We recently introduced the idea of producing action potentials in vitro; our cell free system is based on the reconstituted biological components and on the same microscopic mechanism for generating voltage spikes as real neurons; we call it the Artificial Axon (AA) [1, 2]
While our ultimate goal is to study the behavior of simple networks of Artificial Axons, it is interesting to develop the AA as a cell free platform for electrophysiology studies
Summary
Action potentials are an interesting dynamical system, but not easy to study due to the complexity of the neuron. C is the membrane capacitance, N0 the number of ion channels, χ the single channel conductance (with the channel open), χ a small leak conductance which is present even if the channel is closed (χ
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