“Nanoscale dynamics of ionic reorganization at biological membrane interfaces”
In all living cells, electrochemical signals propagate via ionic reorganization around lipid membranes, yet the 3D dynamics underlying this process remain poorly understood. In recent work (arXiv:2407.11947), we show that long-range electric fields play a fundamental role in these dynamics, facilitating rapid signal propagation speeds along the membrane surface compared to diffusive reorganization. These long-ranged fields arise due to the local breakdown of electroneutrality at ion channels or transporters during localized transmembrane currents. Combining large-scale finite element simulations and analytical theory has enabled us to explore the underlying scaling behaviors and understand their mechanistic origins. I will discuss the role of interfacial diffuse charge layers and the lipid membrane, elements neglected in the classical equivalent circuit frameworks of Hodgkin Huxley and Call, in these dynamics.
Hosts: Michael Abbott and Purushottam Dixit
