The drift-diffusion (Poisson-Nernst-Planck) model is applied to the potassium channel in a biological membrane plus surrounding solution baths. Two-dimensional cylindrically symmetric simulations of the K channel in KCl solutions are presented which show significant boundary layers at the ends of the channel and display the spreading of charge into the bath regions. The computed current-voltage curve shows excellent agreement with experimental measurements. In addition, the response of the K channel to time-dependent applied voltages is investigated.
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