The cation distribution set by surface charges explains a paradoxical membrane excitability behavior

S. Genet, J. Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is widely accepted that divalent cations can affect membrane excitability by interacting with negative charges on the membrane surface. This effect is generally supposed to arise from a modulation of the surface charge electrostatic field within the membrane. As an alternative mechanism, we propose that this effect may also be due to a generalized coupling between ion currents mediated by ionic composition changes at the membrane surface. To test this hypothesis we have computed the transmembrane potential using ionic current relations in which bulk external Ca2+ and K+ activities are substituted with superficial activities deduced from a Grahame-Langmuir isotherm. The model behavior agrees well with published results on Paramecium electrophysiology and furthermore explains 2 paradoxical observations on the cell membrane excitability upon changes of external Ca2+ and K+.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)263-268
Number of pages6
JournalComptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences - Serie III
Volume319
Issue number4
StatePublished - 29 May 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Electrophysiology
  • Membrane potential
  • Modelization
  • Surface potential

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • Developmental Biology

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