Alterations in the structure of the electrical double layer adjacent to a charged membrane arising from electromagnetically induced changes in the activity of membrane bound enzymes.
Electromagnetic fields of very low amplitude have been reported to influence a number of cellular functions. Many of these effects have a high degree of frequency specificity. Herein it is suggested that some of these reported results could be explained by a field-induced alteration in the enzymic activity of integral membrane proteins. It is shown that such a field-induced transition from an initial nonequilibrium steady-state to a final nonequilibrium steady-state can lead to an alteration in the concentration profiles of those charged species in the cell's ambient electrolyte that comprise the so-called electrical double layer. Examples of variations in the concentration profiles of those ions that react with a membrane-bound enzyme, as well as nonreacting ionic species, are given. The modulation of such effects by systematic variations in extracellular pH and ionic strength is discussed.
J D
JD
Bond
N C
NC
Wyeth
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004798:Enzymes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007477:Ions; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical
D004798:Enzymes; D007477:Ions; D008565:Membrane Proteins