A method for determination of energetical structure of conformational states of voltage dependent ionic channels

The mechanism of state transitions has been applied as a base to investigate energetical structure of conformational states of ionic channels. The kinetics of transitions between conformational states, governing the dynamics of the action potential, was represented in the form of a matrix equation. Transition coefficients have been expanded as a function of the external potential to provide a set of parameters. Resulting theoretical equations have been incorporated into the Hodgkin-Huxley model of the action potential. Model parameters, related to energy levels and barriers between conformational states, can be evaluated by fitting a theoretical curve to the experimental one.