Phase transitions in the ferroelectric-active model of ion channels of biomembranes

Abstract

The ferroelectric-superionic transition model explains many of the properties of excitable ion channels. It describes the channel as a component of a ferroelectric liquid crystal that, on opening, undergoes a transition from a ferroelectric state to a paraelectric state, which is taken to be a superionic conductor. At the molecular level, the transition is postulated to involve melting of hydrogen bonds in the four S4 segments of the polypeptide.