Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.3389/frbis.2025.1648934

Publication Title

Frontiers in Biophysics

Volume

3

Pages

1648934

Abstract

Based on the transmembrane-electrostatically localized protons/cations charges (TELCs) theory, neural transmembrane potential including both resting and action potential is now well elucidated as the voltage contributed by the TELCs-membrane-anions capacitor biophysics in a neuron. Accordingly, neural transmembrane potential has an inverse relationship with TELCs surface density, which may represent a substantial progress in bettering the fundamental understanding of neuroscience. In this article, I will present a review on the latest development of the TELCs neural transmembrane potential theory and address Silverstein’s interesting arguments regarding the TELCs model that may constitute a complementary development to both the Hodgkin-Huxley classic cable theory and the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. A series of predictions from the TELCs model regarding crucial ion channels have exactly been experimentally observed in many well-established electrophysiological phenomena including (but not limited to): 1) The tetrodotoxin (TTX) sensitivity shows the complete blockade of action potentials by TTX; 2) Genetic knockout or mutation of critical ion channels abolishes action potential spike; and 3) The precise clustering of ion channels at the axonal initial segment and nodes of Ranvier underlies the ability to fire action potential spikes and the saltatory conduction along a myelinated axon. This indicates that the TELCs model can be well predictive and provide new opportunities as a theoretical tool for further research to better understand neurosciences.

Rights

© 2025 The Authors.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.

Original Publication Citation

Lee, J. W. (2025). From biophysics to cellular function: Neural TELCs-membrane-anions capacitor transmembrane potential. Frontiers in Biophysics, 3, Article 1648934. https://doi.org/10.3389/frbis.2025.1648934

ORCID

0000-0003-2525-5870 (Lee)

Download

Share

COinS