Electrical oscillatory phenomena in protein membranes

Abstract

Membranes were prepared by interacting polycations with polyanions at an interface to give a structured system in which a cationic phase was separated from an anionic phase by a neutral polyampholyte zone. Such a membrane system with a cation ⇌ anion junction exhibits electrical oscillations in an electric field. Measurements of the (current, voltage) characteristics of the membranes under current clamp conditions shows a “negative resistance” region coincident with the polarization conditions required for producing electrical oscillations. Both proteins and polynucleic acids can be used as the polyelectrolyte components of the membrane.