A new methodology to define the equilibrium value function in the kinetics of (in)activation gates

A voltage-gated ion channel is fundamental in generation and propagation of electrical signals in the excitable membranes. Dynamics of (in)activation gates of the ion channel is modeled by first-order kinetics. The equilibrium value function is crucial in the kinetics of the (in)activation gates for fitting experimental data. We present a new methodology to define the equilibrium value function based on the lowest approximation of the cluster variation method and the static properties in the molecular field approximation. The methodology allows for exploration of the gating dynamics.