Site maps were created to clarify how electron tunneling could account for gating and to illustrate the various tunneling distances associated with gating current and inactivation. These maps have a scale representation for the spacing between the sites, along the α-helix axis, and show approximate alignment with the cavities in the channel used for the modulated energy barriers. To simplify the site maps for illustration, the electron tunneling sites are shown along a straight line and the cavities for the energy barriers, which gate the ion current flow, are indicated by triangular displacements in the channel.

Chapter Contents:

• 8.1 Ion channel mapping
• 8.2 Far sites for inactivation, calcium signaling and memory
• 8.3 Near sites on the S4
• 8.4 Back sites and hyperpolarization
• 8.5 Gating current
• 8.6 Charge immobilization
• 8.7 A calcium channel oscillator model using far sites

Inspec keywords: tunnelling; bioelectric phenomena; biomembrane transport

Other keywords: alpha-helix axis; inactivation; site maps; gating current; far sites; back sites; electron tunneling; modulated energy barriers; near sites

Subjects: Bioelectricity; Natural and artificial biomembranes; Biological transport; cellular and subcellular transmembrane physics