title: Poisson-Nernst-Planck theory approach to the calculation of current through biological ion channels.
abstract: The Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) theory of electro-diffusion is reviewed. Techniques for numerical solution of the three-dimensional PNP equations are summarized, and several illustrative applications to ion transport through protein channels are presented. Strengths and weaknesses of the theory are discussed, as well as attempts to improve it via increasingly realistic evaluation of the force acting on each ion due to the protein/membrane environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. coalson@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Rob D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Coalson
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kurnikova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D016062:Porosity; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D006096:Gramicidin