Discontinuous transitions: Multiphasic profiles for channels, binding, pH, folding and chain length

Abstract

A wide variety of biological as well as non-biological processes and phenomena involving ion channels, binding, pH, folding/unfolding and effects of chain length are well represented by multiphasic profiles, a series of straight lines separated by discontinuous transitions, often in the form of noncontiguities (jumps). The lines appear to be perfectly straight, with no indication of any curvilinearity. Adjacent lines are quite often parallel or nearly so and are then necessarily separated by jumps. If the data are sufficiently detailed and precise, the conventional curvilinear profiles must be rejected for a variety of reasons, whereas sudden changes of state occur in many physical systems (see Conclusions).