Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
Published on: October 18, 2013
Effects of gallium and mercury ions on transport systems
Moschèn1, K Schweizer, C A Wagner
1Department of Physiology I, University of Tuebingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Mercury was previously shown to exert toxic effects by influencing ion channels and transporters in the kidney and brain. Gallium alloys were suggested as less toxic restorative materials. To compare the toxicity of gallium ions with those of mercury ions, we applied gallium nitrate Ga(NO3)3 (0.1-100 microM and mercuric chloride (HgCl2) (0.001-10 microM) to Xenopus oocytes expressing mammalian ion channels and transport proteins. Mercury (10 microM) inhibited the K+-channels ROMK and HERG, the phosphate transporter NaPi-3, the amino acid transporter rBAT, the cation transporter OCT-2, and the osmolyte transporter BGT. It activated the I(Ks)-channel but did not affect the Na+-channel ENaC, the anion channel NaPi-1, and the glucose transporter SGLT-1. Gallium was without significant effect on the channels and on SGLT1, NaPi-3, and rBAT, but inhibited BGT and OCT-2. In conclusion, both Hg2+ and Ga3+ may exert toxic effects on transport systems, which may partially explain their cytotoxic effects.
Related Concept Videos
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct microscopic...
Hepatic Encephalopathy

