Abstract
Voltage-gated channels are crucial in action potential initiation and propagation and there are many diseases and disorders related to them. Additionally, the classical mechanics are the main mechanics used to describe the function of the voltage-gated channels and their related abnormalities. However, the quantum mechanics should be considered to unravel new aspects in the voltage-gated channels and resolve the problems and challenges that classical mechanics cannot solve. In the present study, the aim is to mathematically show that quantum mechanics can exhibit a powerful tendency to unveil novel electrical features in voltage-gated channels and be used as a promising tool to solve the problems and challenges in the pathophysiology of excitability-related diseases. The model of quantum tunneling of ions through the intracellular hydrophobic gate is used to evaluate the influence of membrane potential and gating free energy on the tunneling probability, single channel conductance, and quantum membrane conductance. This evaluation is mainly based on graphing the mathematical relationships between these variables. The obtained mathematical graphs showed that ions can achieve significant quantum membrane conductance, which can affect the resting membrane potential and the excitability of cells. In the present work, quantum mechanics reveals original electrical properties associated with voltage-gated channels and introduces new insights and implications into the pathophysiology of excitability- related disorders. In addition, the present work sets a mathematical and theoretical framework that can be utilized to conduct experimental studies in order to explore the quantum aspects of voltage-gated channels and the quantum bioelectrical property of biological membranes.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Voltage-gated channels are crucial for action potential initiation and propagation [1].any disturbance in their function or structure could affect the processes and actions within, and of excitable cells, resulting in different diseases, such as epilepsy [2], pain disorders [3], and cardiac arrhythmias [4]
Understanding how voltage-gated channels operate and how they can be implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases is based mainly on the principles of classical mechanics and laws of thermodynamics [1]
The comparison between quantum conductance and classical conductance of voltage-gated channels is made by graphing the equations, which contain the variables of conductance, gating free energy, and membrane voltage
Summary
Voltage-gated channels are crucial for action potential initiation and propagation [1]. Any disturbance in their function or structure could affect the processes and actions within, and of excitable cells, resulting in different diseases, such as epilepsy [2], pain disorders [3], and cardiac arrhythmias [4]. Understanding how voltage-gated channels operate and how they can be implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases is based mainly on the principles of classical mechanics and laws of thermodynamics [1].
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