Potassium Channel ion rate and Gradient

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SUMMARY

The potassium channel is engineered to filter potassium ions at a maximum rate of 100,000,000 ions per second. The intracellular concentration of potassium is typically 100 mM, while the extracellular concentration is around 5 mM. This results in a ratio of 553 water molecules per potassium ion inside the cell and 11,060 water molecules per ion outside. The discussion raises questions about the impact of this ion filtration on local concentrations around the channel.

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somasimple
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Hi All,
A potassium channel is designed to filter out potassium ions at a maximum rate of 100,000,000 ions s-1
A common concentration (cell's interior) of potassium is 100 mM and 5 mM outside.
This means there is 553 water molecules for 1 potassium ion inside (55.3/0.100) and 11,060 water molecules for a ion outside (55.3/0.005).
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=247778

If the channel acts as a sieve then what happen to the local concentrations, inside and outside?

ref:
rate =>
http://www.pdb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb38_1.html
water =>
http://www.pdb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb38_4.html

ps: local concentration (concentration that exists just around the channel ~ few nm)
 
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http://hypography.com/forums/biology/22734-potassium-channel-ion-rate-and-gradient.html
 

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