10/25 – Robert S Eisenberg, Rush University
Biomedical Engineering Seminar
October 25, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location
BME Seminar in SEO 236
Address
851 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607
Calendar
Download iCal FileSpeaker:
Robert S Eisenberg, Ph.D.
Bard Endowed Professor and Chairman Emeritus
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Rush University
Adjunct Professor
Department of Applied Mathematics
Illinois Institute of Technology
Title: Current Flow in Nerve and Mitochondria
Abstract: Electrodynamics of current provides much of our technology, from telegraphs to the wired infrastructure powering the circuits of our electronic technology. Current flow is analyzed by its own rules. It cannot be analyzed one charge at a time. There are too many charges. Current flow is important in biology. Currents are carried by electrons in mitochondria. Currents are carried by ions in nerve and muscle cells. Currents EVERYWHERE follow the rules of current flow: Kirchhoff’s current law and its generalizations. There are no vitalist exceptions. The role of electricity in generating ATP was discovered long ago. The chain of electron transport has been determined in many extraordinary papers. The chain provides protons to generate ATP in ATPsynthase. The chain of electron transport forms circuits for currents that should be analyzed by Kirchhoff’s law. Circuit analysis is easily applied to short systems like mitochondria that have just one internal electrical potential using the Hodgkin Huxley Katz HHK equation: the equation says that the sum of the ionic currents equals (minus) the current through the membrane capacitor. The HHK equation combined with classical descriptions of chemical reactions forms a computable model of cytochrome c oxidase that we have published in detail, covering a range of experimental conditions with few adjustable parameters. Cytochrome c oxidase is part of the electron transport chain. Current laws that we have used to analyze cytochrome c oxidase are needed to analyze the flow of electrons and protons, throughout mitochodnaria, as they generate ATP.
Date posted
Oct 14, 2024
Date updated
Oct 15, 2024