Abstract: This chapter provides overview transport machinery. It is central to the understanding of membrane transport to recognize that there is a vectorial component whereby ions or solutes are translocated through a protein (complex) embedded in a lipid bilayer membrane. The latter separates two compartments and is largely impermeable to the ions or solutes. Thus, transport proteins are vectorial catalysts and specialized theoretical and practical approaches have been developed to study their mechanisms. It is suggested that transport function is characterized by kinetics, electrogenicity, specificity, and regulation. The usefulness of lipid membrane model systems are found to be profound, both for the physical understanding of transport and in the identification of transport proteins. Identification of transport systems often has as its starting point an intact organ (epithelial sheet or tubule), where it is possible to manipulate ion gradients and electrical potentials. From such data and knowledge of the driving forces, it is possible to derive important conclusions relevant to transport mechanism.
Publication Year: 1989
Publication Date: 1989-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 5
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