A perspective on the structural studies of inner membrane electrochemical potential-driven transporters

M Joanne Lemieux1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada T6G 2H7. mlemieux@ualberta.ca

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One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme “pump” embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
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