Fluctuation-driven Transport Of Molecules In An Asymmetric Membrane Channel

Aquaglyceroporin GlpF selectively conducts water and linear polyalcohol, such asrnglycerol across the inner membrane of Escherichia coli, with absolute exclusion ofrnions and charged solutes and without dissipation of the electrochemical potentialrnacross the cell membrane. There is a current interest in the study of the transportrnof glycerol inside the G1pF specially after the structure of the PMF of GlpF is determinedrnby SMD simulations. Using this structure, Schulten and Kosztin [7J havernnumerically studied the behavior of the current density by considering various casesrnof external tilting force. Being interested in seeking analytical results, we model thernpotential of G1pF by a ratchet potential and obtain analytical expression for the currentrndensity of glycerol through GlpF for various cases of interest. In addition werncompare our results with the numerical results obtained in [7J and identify regionsrnwhere the analytical and numerical results agree

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