From Brownian Dynamics to Markov Chain: An Ion Channel Example

Wan Chen, Radek Erban, S. Jonathan Chapman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

A discrete rate theory for multi-ion channels is presented, in which the continuous dynamics of ion diffusion is reduced to transitions between Markovian discrete states. In an open channel, the ion permeation process involves three types of events: an ion entering the channel, an ion escaping from the channel, or an ion hopping between different energy minima in the channel. The continuous dynamics leads to a hierarchy of Fokker-Planck equations, indexed by channel occupancy. From these the mean escape times and splitting probabilities (denoting from which side an ion has escaped) can be calculated. By equating these with the corresponding expressions from the Markov model, one can determine the Markovian transition rates. The theory is illustrated with a two-ion one-well channel. The stationary probability of states is compared with that from both Brownian dynamics simulation and the hierarchical Fokker-Planck equations. The conductivity of the channel is also studied, and the optimal geometry maximizing ion flux is computed. © 2014 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)208-235
Number of pages28
JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics
Volume74
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 27 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUK-C1-013-04
Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by award KUK-C1-013-04 from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and by funding from the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement 239870.The second author's work was partially supported by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship; by a Fulford Junior Research Fellowship of Somerville College, University of Oxford; by a Nicholas Kurti Junior Fellowship of Brasenose College, University of Oxford; and by a Philip Leverhulme Prize awarded by the Leverhulme Trust.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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