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A Qualitative, Molecular Model of the Nerve Impulse

Conductive Properties of Unsaturated Lyotropic Liquid Crystals

  • Chapter
Modern Bioelectrochemistry

Abstract

An approach to the molecular mechanism of nerve impulse is described. Basically, we propose an electronic conduction band to exist in properly arranged ethylenic double bonds of unsaturated nerve membrane lipids. Electron-electron interaction in the conduction band is brought about by a pair of holes residing on a charge-transfer band of cholesterol and phospholipid carbonyls. Rectification of signal and driving force for propagation is provided by transmembrane ion fluxes which generate a lateral field along the axis of the nerve fiber. Transmembrane ion currents are controlled by Na-channel proteins, which in turn are regulated by a transient phase transition in the membrane lipids. In the latter process a crucial role is played by phosphatidylserine. Under resting potential this lipid in the outer surface of the membrane is deprotonated and in the liquid crystalline state. Following a depolarizing pulse an electrostatically triggered phase transition takes place due to protonation of phosphatidylserine with subsequent phase separation of a crystalline membrane lipid domain and opening of Na channels

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 10, SF-00170, Helsinki 17, Finland

    Paavo K. J. Kinnunen & Jorma A. Virtanen

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  1. Paavo K. J. Kinnunen
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  1. School of Chemistry, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2113, Australia

    Felix Gutmann

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90032, USA

    Hendrik Keyzer

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Kinnunen, P.K.J., Virtanen, J.A. (1986). A Qualitative, Molecular Model of the Nerve Impulse. In: Gutmann, F., Keyzer, H. (eds) Modern Bioelectrochemistry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2105-7_17

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