Computational Analysis of Microtubule-Mediated Saltatory Neuroelectrical Transmission

Abstract

It was recently postulated that neural microtubules (neuro-MTs), which are densely packed inside axons and dendrites, are vacuum cylindrical nanotubes that can mediate neuroelectrical transmission with a unique form of quasi-superconductivity. In this work, the behaviors of free electrons inside a theoretical neuro-MT are modeled using computational analysis and calculations. We reveal that neuro-MTs can function as nanosized physiological devices that mediate neuroelectrical transmission with a super-high energy efficiency. Under physiological conditions, the binding of cytosolic cations (e.g., K+ and Na+) to the surface residues of a neuro-MT triggers its transition from the resting state to an active state, and the rapid dissociation of these cations triggers the opposite. The dipole ring structures of a neuro-MT will help terminate the free electron conduction inside with high efficiency. The proposed neuro-MT-mediated electrical transmission offers a novel mechanistic explanation for the saltatory conduction of the action potentials along an axon. This study also provides insights into the design of novel biomimicking room-temperature superconducting materials, such as the quasi-superconducting carbon or silicone nanotubes.