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Theoretical Analysis of Molecular Transport Across Membrane Channels and Nanopores

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Book cover Computational Modeling of Biological Systems

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

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Abstract

A successful functioning of cellular systems requires that some molecules and ions be transferred out of the cell while other particles should be taken in. The bidirectional flux is accomplished with the help of a complex system of membrane protein channels and pores [1, 2]. It is known that molecular transport across cellular membranes is fast, efficient, selective, and that the functioning of channels is robust with respect to strong nonequilibrium fluctuations in the cellular environment [2]. These observations are especially surprising because in many cases molecular translocation does not involve the use of metabolic energy or significant conformational changes [4]. Although in recent years significant advances in studying molecular transport in biological systems have been achieved, the mechanisms of translocation phenomena are still not well understood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Anatoly B. Kolomeisky

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  1. Anatoly B. Kolomeisky
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Correspondence to Anatoly B. Kolomeisky .

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  1. , Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel H, Mason Farm Rd 120, Chapel Hill, 27599-7260, North Carolina, USA

    Nikolay V Dokholyan

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Kolomeisky, A.B. (2012). Theoretical Analysis of Molecular Transport Across Membrane Channels and Nanopores. In: Dokholyan, N. (eds) Computational Modeling of Biological Systems. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2146-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2146-7_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-2145-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-2146-7

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