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Facilitated Transport

Facilitated Transport

The chemical and physical properties of plasma membranes cause them to be selectively permeable. Since plasma membranes have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, substances need to be able to transverse both regions. The hydrophobic area of membranes repels substances such as charged ions. Therefore, such substances need special membrane proteins to cross a membrane successfully. In facilitated transport, also known as facilitated diffusion, molecules and ions travel across a membrane via...

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...

Patch Clamp

Patch Clamp

Many fundamental cell functions such as muscle contraction and nerve transmission rely on the electrical signals produced by the movement of positively and negatively charged ions across the cell membrane. One competent method to record current flowing across the whole cell or single ion channel is the patch-clamp technique.
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores

Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores

Published on: October 31, 2013

Ionic current through a nanopore three nanometers in diameter.

Yanyan Ge¹, Dongyan Xu, Juekuan Yang

¹Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments and China Education Council Key Laboratory of MEMS, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|October 2, 2009

Summary

Ionic current in nanopores was studied. Results show concentration affects current linearly up to 0.9 M, and surface charge density has a complex effect due to viscous forces impacting ion mobility.

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Fine-tuning the Size and Minimizing the Noise of Solid-state Nanopores

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Published on: October 31, 2013

Monitoring Protein Adsorption with Solid-state Nanopores

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Published on: August 16, 2016

Area of Science:

Nanopore science
Molecular dynamics simulations
Electrochemistry

Background:

Understanding ionic transport through nanoscale pores is crucial for applications like sensing and filtration.
Previous models often assume uniform ion behavior within nanopores, neglecting wall effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the behavior of ionic current through a 3 nm nanopore.
To explore the influence of electrolyte concentration and surface charge density on ionic current.
To elucidate the underlying mechanisms causing non-ideal ionic transport.

Main Methods:

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed.
Simulations focused on a 3 nm diameter nanopore.
System parameters included varying electrolyte concentrations and surface charge densities.

Main Results:

Ionic current increased linearly with electrolyte concentration from 0.4 to 0.9 M, then slowed.
Contrary to expectations, ionic current exhibited an increase-decrease profile with increasing surface charge density.
Observed anomalies were linked to viscous forces near the nanopore wall affecting ion mobility.

Conclusions:

Electrolyte concentration significantly impacts ionic current, with a notable change in behavior beyond 0.9 M.
Surface charge density's effect on ionic current is complex and non-monotonic, influenced by ion-wall interactions.
Viscous drag experienced by ions near the pore wall is a key factor limiting mobility and altering current flow, necessitating refined theoretical models.