BBio 351 – February 22, 2016 Today’s outline Questions about membrane potential? (Worksheet/Sherwood 3.5) Two sides of the membrane Electrical and chemical gradients The Nernst equation: balancing electrical and chemical gradients A graphical approach to electrical and chemical gradients The Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation: calculating membrane potential based on multiple ions Computer modeling of neurons Ion channels (Sherwood 4.1) Spread of electrical signals within neurons (Sherwood ) Passive (not using voltage-gated channels, no action potentials) Active (using voltage-gated channels and action potentials)
Gradients (worksheet) vs. ion channels Basic properties of ion channels “Channel” vs. “carrier”/“transporter”
2 main types of ion channels 10 th Martini, Figure 12-11
A voltage-gated sodium channel Image: ch.ic.ac.uk
Example of ion-selective channel: K +
What is lidocaine and how does it work? Ricarda J.C. Hilf et al., Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2010 [inside of cell] [outside of cell]
OK. Ion channels are open. Ions go in or out. Then what? “Passive” vs. “active” spread Sherwood Figure 4-13a
Passive spread of electrical signals Sherwood Fig. 4-3
Passive spread of electrical signals Lambda song: faculty.washington.edu/crowther/Misc/Songs/lambda.shtml
Sherwood Fig. 4-4: passive spread, continued
Active spread of electrical signals: action potentials! What kinds of ion channels are required? What kind of feedback is at work?
Action potential at one location Sherwood Figure 4-5
Threshold Freeman et al., Biological Science (2014), Fig
Spread of action potential along axon Freeman et al., Biological Science (2014), Fig. 46-8
Saltatory conduction with myelin: active + passive spread Sherwood Figure 4-13a
Saltatory conduction with myelin: active + passive spread What does saltatory mean? What is myelin? What function does myelin serve? Exactly how does myelin accomplish this function?
Myelin and the length constant How does myelin affect R m and/or R i ? How does myelin affect λ? Multiple sclerosis (MS) leads to partial demyelination. How does MS affect λ?