Conductivity-mediated regulation in a compartmental enzyme system. Superactivation and conductance bistability.

This paper deals with the 'conductivity effect' which results from the action of an electric current in a compartmental system involving a chemical reaction producing ionic species. This effect, due to the difference between internal and external conductivities, leads to the accumulation of ionic species inside the reactive compartment. Different results are obtained depending on the considered kinetics: amplification of reaction rate increase, and chemical and conductance bistabilities.