MODELING OF THE EFFECT OF A WEAK ELECTRIC-FIELD ON A NONLINEAR TRANSMEMBRANE ION TRANSFER SYSTEM

A mathematical modelling of the K+/H+ antiport system was carried out to investigate the influence of a weak low-frequency applied periodic electric field on ion flux via a carrier across the lipid membrane. Nonlinear in character, the system can have a damped oscillatory, trigger or self-sustained oscillatory behaviour depending on the pattern of the ionic flux. Numerical calculation showed that the applied electric field could parametrically regulate nonlinear biological systems and the effects can be significant in bifurcation areas. The intensity of applied periodic electric field was estimated to be in the range 10-600 V cm(-1) and the frequency in the range 10(-2)-10 Hz.