A CELLULAR-AUTOMATA MODEL OF MEMBRANE-PERMEABILITY

A cellular automata model of a semi-permeable membrane has been create d separating two compartments of water. Several cells encrypting the p roperties of a polar solute are located near the membrane surface in o ne compartment. These solute cells influence the preferential diffusio n of water cells from the other compartment to enter the membrane. Thi s simulation of the osmotic effect is found to increase with the conce ntration of solute cells. In another study, the lipophilicity of the s olute cells is varied and their diffusion into and through the semiper meable membrane is observed. The diffusion increases with increasing l ipophilicity up to a certain value, followed by a sharp decline in the membrane passage of the solute. At this point, the concentration of s olute within the membrane increases dramatically with modest increases in the lipophilicity of the solute. At this same critical value of li pophilicity, there is a notable decrease in the flux of water passing through the membrane in either direction. The simulation portrays the possibility of dramatic changes in membrane permeability to water and to some solutes when very minor changes are made in molecular structur e influencing some physical properties. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limite d.