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Updated: May 8, 2025

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components
Published on: February 8, 2011
Quantum features of the transport through ion channels in the soft knock-on model
Mateusz Polakowski1, Miłosz Panfil1
1Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Ion channels are protein structures that facilitate the selective passage of ions across the membrane cells of living organisms. They are known for their high conductance and high selectivity. The precise mechanism between these two seemingly contradicting features is not yet firmly established. One possible candidate is the quantum coherence. In this work we study the quantum model of the soft knock-on conduction using the Lindblad equation taking into account the non-hermiticity of the model. We show that the model exhibits a regime in which high conductance coexists with high coherence. Our findings second the role of quantum effects in the transport properties of the ion channels.
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