Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

What is an Electrochemical Gradient?01:26

What is an Electrochemical Gradient?

118.7K
Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...
118.7K
Secondary Active Transport01:55

Secondary Active Transport

123.0K
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...
123.0K
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells02:47

Voltaic/Galvanic Cells

45.6K
Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
45.6K
Transcellular Transport of Solutes01:23

Transcellular Transport of Solutes

4.0K
Transcellular transport of solutes is the movement of substances like monosaccharides and amino acids through polarized cells. This transport mechanism is primarily seen in epithelial and endothelial cells aided by membrane transport proteins such as channels and transporters. The tight junctions between these cells confine the membrane proteins to the two sides of the cell. The epithelial cells have distinct apical and basolateral domains. In contrast, the endothelial cells show the luminal...
4.0K
Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration01:21

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

5.0K
Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon...
5.0K
Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

4.9K
An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...
4.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Higher AMPK activation in mouse oxidative compared with glycolytic muscle does not correlate with LKB1 or CaMKKβ expression.

American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism·2024
Same author

Author Correction: The geology and evolution of the Near-Earth binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

The geology and evolution of the Near-Earth binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

The Comet Interceptor Mission.

Space science reviews·2024
Same author

Momentum transfer from the DART mission kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos.

Nature·2023
Same author

The Intriguing mitoNEET: Functional and Spectroscopic Properties of a Unique [2Fe-2S] Cluster Coordination Geometry.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2022
Same journal

Daily briefing: How cooperation built the world.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Deep-sea oddities and boatloads of other new species - June's best science images.

Nature·2026
Same journal

From cloning to gene-editing: the enduring legacy of Dolly the sheep.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Time to give hydration breaks the red card? What science says about keeping cool.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Universities are relying on AI-detection software to catch cheating. How well do the programs work?

Nature·2026
Same journal

Daily briefing: 'Cyborg' cockroaches breathe underwater with printed suit.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology
11:05

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

Published on: August 30, 2007

14.8K

Affinity gradients drive copper to cellular destinations.

Lucia Banci1, Ivano Bertini, Simone Ciofi-Baffoni

  • 1Magnetic Resonance Center CERM and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.

Nature
|May 14, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cellular copper distribution is governed by protein binding affinities. This study quantifies copper-binding affinities, revealing how copper moves along cellular pathways by exploiting affinity gradients.

More Related Videos

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy
13:10

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: April 4, 2013

11.7K
Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients
11:23

Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients

Published on: February 23, 2017

14.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology
11:05

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

Published on: August 30, 2007

14.8K
Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy
13:10

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: April 4, 2013

11.7K
Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients
11:23

Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients

Published on: February 23, 2017

14.3K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Trace Element Metabolism

Background:

  • Copper is essential but toxic; cells tightly regulate intracellular free copper.
  • Cellular copper trafficking systems ensure nutrient supply while preventing toxicity.
  • Previous data on copper-binding affinities of proteins were inconsistent and incomparable.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine apparent Cu(I)-binding affinities for key intracellular copper proteins.
  • To rationalize the factors driving copper transfer between protein partners.
  • To provide a thermodynamic basis for cellular copper distribution.

Main Methods:

  • A unified electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)-based strategy was employed.
  • Measurements were performed in a cellular redox milieu.
  • Apparent Cu(I)-binding affinities were determined for a representative set of copper proteins.

Main Results:

  • Copper moves between protein sites by exploiting gradients of increasing copper-binding affinity.
  • High-affinity copper-binding proteins include metallothioneins and Cu,Zn-SOD1.
  • Thermodynamic data explain kinetic processes in cellular copper distribution.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular copper distribution relies on a network of protein-protein interactions and specific recognition.
  • Gradients in copper-binding affinity dictate copper movement along cellular pathways.
  • This study provides crucial thermodynamic data for understanding copper homeostasis.