title: Ion channel events simulated with the program SIMSTATE.
abstract: Ion channel transitions between conducting (open) and non-conducting (closed) states are often described in terms of a chemical kinetic model, where the rate constants describing the transitions between states can be derived by analysing a data record and measuring channel dwell times. In this paper, a menu-driven program for IBM-compatible microcomputers, SIMSTATE, is described which permits simulations of one or more channels according to a user-specified set of transition rates. Rates can be constant, voltage- or ligand-activated, exhibit co-operativity, or dependent on the calcium concentration resulting from the opening of one or more nearby Ca channels. To illustrate the functionality of SIMSTATE, open and closed events are simulated for a well-known Ca channel model and an example of co-operative gating is examined. Furthermore, the control of a Ca-dependent K channel by a nearby Ca channel, which also opens and closes according to a user-specified transition rates, is described. Potential uses for SIMSTATE as a tool for theoretical analysis, education and experimental design are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pancrazio
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003626:Data Display; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology; D008838:Microcomputers; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium