Intrinsic diffusion resistance of a membrane channel, mean first-passage times between its ends, and equilibrium unidirectional fluxes.

Abstract

Diffusive flux of solute molecules through a membrane channel driven by the solute concentration difference on the two sides of the membrane is inversely proportional to the channel diffusion resistance. We show that the intrinsic, channel proper, part of this resistance is the ratio of the sum of the mean first-passage times of the molecule between the channel ends and the molecule partition function in the channel. This is derived without appealing to any specific model of the channel and, therefore, is applicable to transport in channels of arbitrary shape and tortuosity and at arbitrary interaction strength of solute molecules with the channel walls.