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Carrier and channel ionophores (a) Carrier ionophores reversibly bind ions and carry them through cell membranes. (b) Channel ionophores create channels within cell membranes to facilitate the transport of ions. In chemistry, an ionophore (from Greek ion and -phore 'ion carrier') is a chemical species that reversibly binds ions. [1]
Ions pass through channels down their electrochemical gradient, which is a function of ion concentration and membrane potential, "downhill", without the input (or help) of metabolic energy (e.g. ATP, co-transport mechanisms, or active transport mechanisms).
Thermodynamically the flow of substances from one compartment to another can occur in the direction of a concentration or electrochemical gradient or against it. If the exchange of substances occurs in the direction of the gradient, that is, in the direction of decreasing potential, there is no requirement for an input of energy from outside the system; if, however, the transport is against ...
The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), (also known as amiloride-sensitive sodium channel) is a membrane-bound ion channel that is selectively permeable to sodium ions (Na +).It is assembled as a heterotrimer composed of three homologous subunits α or δ, β, and γ, [2] These subunits are encoded by four genes: SCNN1A, SCNN1B, SCNN1G, and SCNN1D.
Two-pore channels (TPCs) are eukaryotic intracellular voltage-gated and ligand gated cation selective ion channels. [1] There are two known paralogs in the human genome, TPC1s and TPC2s. [2] In humans, TPC1s are sodium selective and TPC2s conduct sodium ions, calcium ions and possibly hydrogen ions. Plant TPC1s are non-selective channels.
Diffusion vs. Transport. In biology, an ion transporter is a transmembrane protein that moves ions (or other small molecules) across a biological membrane to accomplish many different biological functions, including cellular communication, maintaining homeostasis, energy production, etc. [1] There are different types of transporters including pumps, uniporters, antiporters, and symporters.
An ion gradient has potential energy and can be used to power chemical reactions when the ions pass through a channel (red). Hydrogen ions, or protons, will diffuse from a region of high proton concentration to a region of lower proton concentration, and an electrochemical concentration gradient of protons across a membrane can be harnessed to ...
Developmental bioelectricity is a sub-discipline of biology, related to, but distinct from, neurophysiology and bioelectromagnetics.Developmental bioelectricity refers to the endogenous ion fluxes, transmembrane and transepithelial voltage gradients, and electric currents and fields produced and sustained in living cells and tissues.