DISSIPATIVE CONDENSATION OF ION CHANNELS DESCRIBED BY A LANGEVIN-KELVIN EQUATION

The lateral motion of protein molecules in a fluid lipid membrane is treated by Langevin equations. Long-range attractive forces are taken into account which arise from the interaction of electrophoretic charges with voltage gradients caused by ion flow through open channels and leaks. Clusters of molecules are formed above a threshold of the concentration gradient of ions across the membrane. Within the clusters we observe coexistence of crystalline order in their center and liquid-like order in a wide interfacial region. The parameters are chosen to match the physical conditions of a synapse between neurons, such a cluster formation represents a model for memory formation.