Membrane Potential

Membrane Potential -1

Two Types of Ion Channels

Leakage (nongated) channels always open Gated channels open and close
voltage-gated ligand-gated mechanically-gated

Membrane Potential -2

Membrane Permeability
1. Ligand-gated ion channels
Acetylcholine Na+ Receptor site for acetylcholine Closed Na+ channel

ligand molecule that binds to a receptor ion channels open in response to ligand binding

Acetylcholine bound to receptor sites Open Na+ channel

Na+ diffuse through the open channel

Membrane Potential -3

Gated Ion Channels

Membrane Potential -4

MEMBRANE POTENTIALS
Like charges repel and unlike attract anion = negative, cation = positive separated : move back together creates electrical force separation of charge = potential difference The resting potential is what you find in a cell at
Membrane Potential -5

Voltmeter of Science -40 to -70 mV Extracellular fluid

+ + + + + ++ ++ ++ +
Plasma membrane

- - - - - - - - - - - - Cytoplasm

Cell

Cytoplasm

Plasma Membrane
Membrane Potential -6

Electrical Signals in Neurons

Neurons are electrically excitable due to the resting potential 2 types of electric signals
action potentials local or graded potentials

In living cells, a flow of ions occurs through ion channels in the cell membrane

Membrane Potential -7

Electrical Signals
Electrical properties due to
ionic concentrations permeability

Concentration highlights
Cations:
Potassium (K+) > inside Sodium (Na+) > outside

Anions:
proteins > inside

Membrane Potential -8

Why are there concentration differences?

Na-K pump
active transport 2 K+ in and 3 Na+ out

proteins are made in the cell permeability : gates & channels

number of open channels size of ions number of gated channels

Membrane Potential -9

Sodium-Potassium Exchange Pump

Concentration gradient maintained by Na+/K+ pump
Extracellular fluid
Na+ K+

Na+

Cytoplasm
ATP binding site

P ATP ADP

Na+

K+

K+ Membrane Potential -10

Resting Membrane Potential

- ions along inside of cell membrane & + ions along outside
difference at rest is -70 mV cell is polarized

Resting potential exists because

concentration of ions different inside & outside
extracellular lots of Na+ and Cl cytosol full of K+ & amino acids

membrane permeability differs for Na+ and K+

50-100 greater permeability for K+ inward flow of Na+ cant keep up with outward flow of K+ Na+/K+ pump removes Na+ as fast as it leaks in
Membrane Potential -11

Na+ K+
Leakage of Na+ and K+ needs to be addressed.

Na+ Na+

Na+

K+ Na+

3. Pump activated and 3Na+ exit and 2K + enter cell

K+

Na+ K+ Na+

Na+

Na+
Na+/K+ ATPase (Sodium Pump)

Na+ K+ K+ K+ K+

K+ K+ Na+ Na+ K+

ADP Pi
2. ATP converted to ADP and Pi

ATP

1. ATP binds

Na+ K+

4. ADP and Pi dissociate and pump stops

Membrane Potential -12

Local or Graded Potentials

Small deviations from resting potential of -70mV

hyperpolarization (i.e. -70 mV to -90 mV) Depolarization (i.e. -70 mV to -40 mV)

Membrane Potential -13

How do Graded Potentials Arise?

Source of stimuli
mechanical stimulation (pressure) chemical stimulation (neurotransmitter)

What really happens?

ions flow through ion channels & change membrane potential locally amount of change varies

Flow of current (ions) is local change only

Membrane Potential -14

Action Potential
change then restore the membrane potential Ion channels open, depolarization then repolarization All-or-none principal Travels over surface of cell without dying out: Not local!!
+20 0 Depolarization Repolarization

(mV)

Threshold Local potential

90

Afterpotential

Time (ms)

Membrane Potential -15

Depolarizing Phase of Action Potential

graded potential reaches threshold Voltage-gated Na+ channels open & Na+ rushes into cell
in resting membrane, inactivation gate of sodium channel is open & activation gate is closed (Na+ can not get in) At threshold, both open & Na+ enters inactivation gate closes

Membrane Potential -16

Repolarizing Phase of Action Potential

When -55mV reached, voltage-gated K+ channels open K+ channel opening is slow When K+ channels open, the Na+ channels close K+ outflow returns us back to -70mV If enough K+ leaves the cell, it will reach -90mV K+ channels close : back to resting potential of -70mV

Membrane Potential -17

Refractory Period of Action Potential

neuron can not generate another action potential Absolute

even very strong stimulus will not begin another AP inactivated Na+ channels must return to the resting state

Relative
a suprathreshold stimulus will start AP K+ channels open, but Na+ channels closed

Membrane Potential -18

Propagation of Action Potential

An action potential spreads over the surface of axon
as Na+ flows into the cell during depolarization, the voltage of adjacent areas is effected and their voltage-gated Na+ channels open self-propagating along the membrane

The traveling action potential = nerve impulse

Membrane Potential -19

Action Potential Frequency

Increasing frequency of action potentials Action potential +20 (mV) 0 Local potential Threshold Same frequency of action potentials

90

Subthreshold stimulus

Threshold stimulus

Submaximal stimulus

Submaximal stimulus

Maximal stimulus

Supramaximal stimulus

Increasing stimulus strength Time (ms) Membrane Potential -20