Ion channels are nature’s nanodevices that control transmembrane potential and propagate electrical signals. Natural selection has led to the occurrence of different types of ion channels, each activated by a different environmental stimulus. From a thermodynamic point of view, changes in the internal state of these nanomachines (e.g. between the closed and open state) are driven by generalized forces such as temperature, external electric fields and surface tension. Drawing lessons from physiologically relevant cases, I will discuss major achievements and future challenges toward a microscopic description of these transformations. I will focus, in particular, on the role of fluctuations and pre-transition (nucleation) effects in the stabilization of a given conformational state and discuss a possible role for criticality in ion channels sensing.

On the voltage and temperature dependence of ion-channel gating

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.