Question

How might temperature related changes in protein structure explain changes in nerve conduction velocity under different temperature conditions?

Answer 1

The nerve is an excitable cell and is the site for generation of action potential and its propagation. The generation of action potentian and its propagation requires changes in membrane potential of a neuron caused by movement of ions in and out of cell through ion channels.
These ion channels are made up of proteins and allow passage of ions across the cell membrane.
The rise or fall in temperature affects the nerve conduction velocity by altering the ion channel.
When the temperature falls, the nerve conduction velocity decreases witn increase in amplitude and latency. This is due to decreased flow of sodium ions into the cell and decreased membrane permeability. Similarly when temperature rises, the nerve conduction velocity increases due to increased movement of sodium and increased membrane permeability. This change in nerve conduction velocity is due to change in sequence of amino acid that constitutes the ion channel in response to change in tempy