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Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

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 the...

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...

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...

Primary Active Transport

Primary Active Transport

In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps that are embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction they...

Primary Active Transport

Primary Active Transport

In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction they would not...

Ion Channels

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Published on: September 7, 2018

Electrokinetic transport through nanochannels.

Saeid Movahed¹, Dongqing Li

¹Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Electrophoresis

|May 4, 2011

Summary

This study numerically investigates electrokinetic transport in nanochannels, finding that electric potential, ion concentration, and flow velocity are size-dependent. Stronger surface charge or larger nanochannel radius increases flow velocity.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Published on: September 7, 2018

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution

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AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures

Published on: July 28, 2008

Area of Science:

Fluid dynamics
Electrochemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Conventional electrokinetic theories (Poisson-Boltzmann, Helmholtz-Smoluchowski) are invalid at the nanoscale.
Nanometer dimensions invalidate the Boltzmann distribution of ions.

Purpose of the Study:

To numerically study electrokinetic phenomena (electroosmosis, electrophoresis) in a 3D nanochannel.
To investigate the effects of surface charge and nanochannel radius on electric potential, ion transport, and fluid flow.

Main Methods:

Solving coupled partial differential equations: Poisson-Nernst-Plank, Navier-Stokes, and continuity equations.
Numerical simulation of a 3D nanochannel with a circular cross-section.

Main Results:

Electric potential, ionic concentration, and velocity fields are strongly size-dependent in nanochannels.
Electric potential gradient depends on surface electric charge.
Counter-ion transport exceeds co-ion transport.
Significant ionic concentration enrichment observed at nanochannel entrance and exit.
Flow velocity increases with stronger surface electric charge or larger nanochannel radius.

Conclusions:

Electrokinetic transport in nanochannels is fundamentally different from microchannels due to size effects.
Nanochannel geometry and surface properties significantly influence ion transport and fluid dynamics.
Numerical simulations provide crucial insights into nanoscale electrokinetic phenomena.