Hofmeister (ion specic) effects are phenomena related to the chemical nature of electrolytes. Although they are ubiquitous in all chemical, colloidal, and biological systems, they cannot be quantied in terms of the conventional physico-chemical theories (i.e. Debye–Hückel, DLVO, etc.). These are limit theories, based on electrostatics, and valid at innite dilution only. The gap between theor...

To understand the mechanisms of Na(+)/Li(+) permeation at submicromolar Ca(2+) concentrations, Na(+)/Li(+) blocking at higher Ca(2+) concentrations (10(-6)-10(-4) M) and Ca(2+) permeation at millimolar Ca(2+) concentrations, we used our recently described L-type calcium channel model. For this purpose, we obtained potential of mean force (pmf) curves for the position change of one Na(+) and one...

General anesthetics have revolutionized medicine by facilitating invasive procedures, and have thus become essential drugs. However, detailed understanding of their molecular mechanisms remains elusive. A mechanism proposed over a century ago involving unspecified interactions with the lipid bilayer known as the unitary lipid-based hypothesis of anesthetic action, has been challenged by evidenc...