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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

binding affinity, single-ion-occupied acetylcholinesterase, AChE, Acetylcholine, ACh

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Trans-membrane channels are the highway mechanisms of biological cells. Through these channels, cells transfer information in the form of ions and other molecules. These transferred materials are called permeating ions. It is well known that most channels work on the principles of size, shape, and charge. Charged channels allow permeating ions of the opposite charge and appropriate shape to pass, while similarly charged ions cannot pass. However, the fluid inside and outside a cell contains many atomic ions, such as sodium (Na+) ions. Because these atomic ions are both small and charged they are able to fit through many different types of channels. At times, they may even pass into a channel that is not designed to transport atomic ions. It seems that atomic ions compete with other permeating ions for access to these channels. This theory is called “Charge-Space Competition Theory,” and was developed at Brigham Young University. My research studied the effects of an increase in solvent ion concentration on the ability of a channel to bind with its intended permeating ion.

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