Molecular events and energy changes during the action potential.
A novel interpretation of the existing data concerning the energy changes associated with nerve impulse propagation is proposed. The main conclusion is that the negative phrase ofthe initial heat of activity cannot be accounted for without recourse to conformational changes in membrane proteins. It stems from analyzing and computing the energy changes associated with ionic flows, capacitive currents, and structural changes in membrane gateways. A close quantitative agreement with microcalorimetric measurements was achieved.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002151:Calorimetry; D049832:Decapodiformes; D008433:Mathematics; D008566:Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics
D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium