Michael E. Green

Professor Emeritus

Areas of Expertise/Research

  • Ion Channels
  • Nerve Impulses
  • quantum calculations

Building

Marshak Science Building

Office

1130

Phone

212-650-6034

Fax

212-650-6107

Michael E. Green

Education

BS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY 1959

MS, PhD, YALE UNIVERSITY 1961,1964* (*Official date, completed 1963)

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 1963-1964

Courses Taught

(RECENT YEARS ONLY) INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY (BOTH SEMESTERS), ION CHANNELS (SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE, PhD PROGRAM)

Professional Experience

THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK, 1966-2018; PROFESSOR EMERITUS, 2018-PRESENT (ASST PROF TO PROF; DEPARTMENT CHAIR, 1990-1996)

MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, ANKARA, 1964-1966 (VISITING FACULTY MEMBER, AS PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER)

         VISITING SCIENTIST, HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY (ANKARA) 1974

         VISITING SCIENTIST, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, LANZHOU (1982)

Research Interests

The work on ion channels has been a collaborative effort with Alisher M Kariev, who is coauthor on essentially everything done in the ion channels work. 

Quantum calculations on ion channels, with related calculations on hydrogen bonding, salt bridges, and water clusters: we have done large scale calculations involving a fairly large section of a channel, now up to 1322 atoms, including 133 water molecules, about 30% of the total number of atoms. We are attempting to work out gating and conduction mechanisms for voltage gated potassium channels in particular. Calculations are now underway at high performance computers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and at the City University of New York

What is distinctive about our work is that we are testing whether the standard gating model is correct or needs to be replaced. In the standard model, the S4 segment of the voltage sensing domain undergoes a major conformational shift. Our calculations are consistent with S4 remaining stationary, and the gating current, which is a capacitative current preceding the opening of the channel gate to allow the main ioinic current is instead provided by protons. Our calculations at this point are consistent with the gating current being provided by protons that move through the voltage sensing domain, then through the linker connecting the voltage sensing domain to the gate at the entrance to the pore. The gate provides a major barrier to the progress of potassium ions when ten protons are present, but not in the absence of protonsl in other words, proton motion can account for the  main properties of gating. Additonal calculaitons now in progress test whether the proton motion model can account for certain experimental results that are very difficult to understand on the standard models, in their various forms.

 

Additional Information

1) CHAIR, THE CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK CHAPTER OF THE PSC-CUNY, 2009-2012.

2) PERMANENT RESEARCH ASSOCIATE: ALISHER M KARIEV

BOOKS AUTHORED OR COAUTHORED

  1. SAFETY IN WORKING WITH CHEMICALS,  M.E. GREEN AND A. TURK, (1978)
  2. THE USE OF ESTIMATES IN SOLVING CHEMISTRY PROBLEMS, M. E. GREEN AND D. GARLAND (1991, SAUNDERS COLLEGE PUBLISHING)
  3. CHEMISTRY AND SOCIETY: A MEASUREMENT BASED COURSE, M. E. GREEN, (2019, LINUS LEARNING, RONKONKOMA)

Publications

Books

1. Water in Biology: A Molecular View   M. E. Green and A . M. Kariev (Nova Publishers, 2023)

2. Chemistry and Society: A Measurements Based Course M. E. Green (Linus Learning, 2018)

3. The Use of Estimates in Solving Chemical Problems M. E. Green and D. Garland (Saunders College Publishing, 1991)

4. Safety in Working with Chemicals, M. E. Green and A. Turk (Macmillan, 1978)

 

References relevant to ion channel properties

1. Protons in Gating the Kv1.2 Channel: A Calculated Set of Protonation States in Response to Polarization/Depolarization of the Channel, with the Complete Proposed Proton Path from Voltage Sensing Domain to Gate. Kariev, A. M.; Green, M. E. Membranes (Basel, Switz.) 2022, 12 (7), 718, 10.3390/membranes12070718. DOI: 10.3390/membranes12070718.

2. Quantum calculations on ion channels: why are they more useful than classical calculations, and for which processes are they essential? Kariev, A. M.; Green, M. E. Symmetry 2021, 13, 655-678.. DOI: 10.3390/sym13040655 http://www.mdpi.com/journal/symmetry

3. The Role of Ion Transition from the Pore Cavity to the Selectivity Filter in the Mechanism of Selectivity and Rectification in the Kv1.2 Potassium Channel: Transfer of Ion Solvation from Cavity Water to the Protein and Water of the Selectivity Filter   Kariev; Alisher M.; Green, Michael E.  bioRxiv 2020.03.16.994194; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.16.99419

3. The Role of Ion Transition from the Pore Cavity to the Selectivity Filter in the Mechanism of Selectivity and Rectification in the Kv1.2 Potassium Channel: Transfer of Ion Solvation from Cavity Water to the Protein and Water of the Selectivity Filter   Kariev; Alisher M.; Green, Michael E.  bioRxiv 2020.03.16.994194; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.16.99419

4. Quantum Calculation of Proton and Other Charge Transfer Steps in Voltage Sensing in the Kv1.2 Channel   Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2019), 123(38), 7984-7998.

5. Quantum calculation of proton and other charge transfer steps in voltage sensing in the Kv1.2 channel   Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From ChemRxiv (2019), 1-41.

6.The role of proton transport in gating current in a voltage gated ion channel, as shown by quantum calculations  Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From Sensors (2018), 18(9), 3143/1-3143/29.

7. The Role of Proton Transport in Gating Current in a Voltage Gated Ion Channel, as Shown by Quantum Calculations  Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From bioRxiv, Biophysics (2018), 1-46.

8. Quantum calculations of a large section of the voltage sensing domain of the Kv1.2 channel show that proton transfer, not S4 motion, provides the gating current  Kariev, Alisher. M.; Green, Michael. E. From arXiv.org, e-Print Archive, Quantitative Biology (2017), 1,-304.

9. Quantum Effects in a Simple Ring with Hydrogen Bonds   Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2015), 119(19), 5962-5969.

10. Caution is required in interpretation of mutations in the voltage sensing domain of voltage gated channels as evidence for gating mechanisms  Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2015), 16(1), 1627-1643.

11. Quantum calculations show caution is needed in interpreting methanethiosulfonate accessibility experiments on ion channels. By Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E.   arXiv.org, e-Print Archive, Quantitative Biology (2013), 1-11, arXiv:1309.1373v1 [q-bio.BM].

12. Quantum calculations show caution is needed in interpreting methanethiosulfonate accessibility experiments on ion channels By Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E.   arXiv.org, e-Print Archive, Quantitative Biology (2013), 1-11, arXiv:1309.1373v1 [q-bio.BM].

13. Voltage gated ion channel function: gating, conduction, and the role of water and protons  Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E. From International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2012), 13, 1680-1709.

14. Quantum calculations on salt bridges with water: Potentials, structure, and properties By Liao, Sing; Green, Michael E. From Computational & Theoretical Chemistry (2011), 963(1), 207-214.

15. Quantum calculations on water in the KcsA channel cavity with permeant and non-permeant ions By Kariev, Alisher; Green, Michael E.   Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Biomembranes (2009), 1788(5), 1188-1192.

16. Quantum Mechanical Calculations on Selectivity in the KcsA Channel: The Role of the Aqueous Cavity By Kariev, Alisher M.; Green, Michael E.   Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2008), 112(4), 1293-1298.

17. Consequences of phosphate-arginine complexes in voltage-gated ion channels  Green Michael E From Channels (Austin, Tex.) (2008), 2(6), 395-400

18. Quantum Calculations on Hydrogen Bonds in Certain Water Clusters Show Cooperative Effects  Znamenskiy, Vasiliy S.; Green, Michael E. From Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation (2007), 3(1), 103-114.

19. A possible role for phosphate in complexing the arginines of S4 in voltage gated channels By Green, Michael E.   Journal of Theoretical Biology (2005), 233(3), 337-341.

20. Voltage gating and anions, especially phosphate: A model system  Pradhan, Padmanava; Ghose, Ranajeet; Green, Michael E. From Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Biomembranes (2005), 1717(2), 97-103.

21. Ion channel gating and proton transport By Sapronova, Alla; Bystrov, Vladimir; Green, Michael E.   Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM (2003), 630, 297-307.

22. Water, proton transfer, and hydrogen bonding in ion channel gating By Sapronova Alla; Bystrov Vladimir S; Green Michael E   Frontiers in Bioscience : a journal and virtual library (2003), 8s1356-70

23. Partially Charged H5O2 as a Chemical Switch: A Bond Order and Atoms in Molecules Study of Hydrogen Bonding Determined by Surrounding Groups  Green, Michael E. From Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2002), 106(46), 11221-11226

24. Water as a structural element in a channel: gating in the Kcsa channel, and implications for voltage-gated ion channels   Green, Michael E. From Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics (2002), 19(4), 725-730.

25. Ab initio calculations on a critical part of a protein, with an H5O2 partially charged group in a central role By Green, Michael E. Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2001), 105(22), 5298-5303.

26. A model for ion channel voltage gating with static S4 segments By Lu, Jianjun; Yin, Jian; Green, Michael E. From Ferroelectrics (1999), 220(3-4), 249-271

27. Simulation of Water in a Small Pore: Effect of Electric Field and Density II: Immobilized Molecules By Lu, Jianjun; Green, Michael E. Journal of Physical Chemistry B (1999), 103(14), 2776-2780.

28. Computer simulations and modeling of ion channels By Green, Michael E. Methods in Enzymology (1998), 293(Ion Channels, Part B), 694-723

29. A resonance model gives the response to membrane potential for an ion channel By Green, Michael E. Journal of Theoretical Biology (1998), 193(3), 475-483.

30. Intermolecular Proton Transfer between Two Methylamine Molecules with an External Electric Field in the Gas Phase Yin, Jian; Green, Michael E. From Journal of Physical Chemistry A (1998), 102(36), 7181-7190

31. Simulation of water in a pore with charges. Application to a gating mechanism for ion channels By Lu, J.; Green, M. E. Progress in Colloid & Polymer Science (1997), 103(Amphiphiles at Interfaces), 121-129.

32. Simulation of Water in a Small Pore: Effect of Electric Field and Density By Green, Michael E.; Lu, Jianjun From Journal of Physical Chemistry B (1997), 101(33), 6512-6524

33. Monte-Carlo simulation of the effects of charges on water and ions in a tapered pore   Green, Michael E.; Lu, Jianjun From Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (1995), 171(1), 117-26

34. Monte Carlo simulation of the water in a channel with charges By Green, Michael E.; Lewis, Joseph   Biophysical Journal (1991), 59(2), 419-26.

35. Simulation of the role of water in ion channel gating By Green M E Biophysical journal (1992), 62(1), 101-3

36. Electrorheological effects and gating of membrane channels By Green M E Journal of theoretical biology (1989), 138(4), 413-28