Model of multifractal gating of single ionic channels in biological membranes

Abstract

A physico-mathematical model of the gating machinery of single ionic channels in biological membranes has been developed. In the paradigm of this model, gating particles are subjected to: (i) deterministic friction force responsible for interactions of gating particles with the surrounding solution; (ii) deterministic potential force depending on the structure and conformational state of the channel pore (the latter is controlled by the transmembrane voltage V and regulates the motion of particles overcoming potential barriers on going from the closed (open) to the open (closed) state of the channel); (iii) deterministic force responsible for interactions of water molecules with hydrophobic sites in the channel pore, and, finally, (iv) stochastic thermal fluctuation force. The model affords adequate approximation of experimental data.