Theory and Experiments on Multi-Ion Permeation and Selectivity in the NaChBac Ion Channel

Abstract

The highly selective permeation of ions through biological ion channels is an unsolved problem of noise and fluctuations. In this paper, we motivate and introduce a non-equilibrium and self-consistent multi-species kinetic model, with the express aims of comparing with experimental recordings of current versus voltage and concentration and extracting important permeation parameters. For self-consistency, the behavior of the model at the two-state, i.e., selective limit in linear response, must agree with recent results derived from an equilibrium statistical theory. The kinetic model provides a good fit to data, including the key result of an anomalous mole fraction effect.