The biochemical cycle of impedance variation in axonal membranes

Abstract

The main feature of our results may be summarized by saying that the cycle of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of some proteins located in the membrane of nerves is influenced by electrical stimulation, inorganic ions and compounds known to interfere with the acetylcholine system or nerve activity in vivo . Though the results bring evidence favoring the idea that the net state of phosphorylation of some protein component could control the conducting state of the axonal membrane, so far they do not undisputably prove that it is so, especially if taken separately. When put together, all the results seem to give sense to the hypothesis according to which the conformation of the protein controlling the sodium conductance of the axonal membrane and for which the name sodium conductin has been coined is directly related to its net phosphorylation state. It is therefore tempting to ascribe to phosphorylation-dephosphorylation processes of axonal membrane proteins a major role in the biochemical cycle of impedance variation (IVC).