Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Membrane Transporters

Membrane Transporters

Transporters are essential membrane transport proteins with functions related to cell nutrition, homeostasis, communication, etc. Approximately 7% of all genes in the human genome code for transporters or transporter-related proteins.
Transporters are mainly composed of alpha-helices, built from bundles of ten or more helices traversing the plasma membrane. The solute-binding sites are located midway, where some of the helices are broken or distorted, making space for the binding site through...

ATP Driven Pumps I: An Overview

ATP Driven Pumps I: An Overview

ATP-driven pumps, also known as transport ATPases, are integral membrane proteins. They have binding sites for ATP located on the membrane's cytosolic side and the ion-conducting domain in the transmembrane region. These pumps use the free energy released from ATP hydrolysis to move the solutes across cell membranes against an electrochemical gradient.
There are four main types of ATP-driven pumps - P-type, V-type, F-type, and ABC transporter. All these pumps are of varying complexities and are...

Carrier-Mediated Transport

Carrier-Mediated Transport

Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...

Facilitated Diffusion

Facilitated Diffusion

The plasma membrane, a critical structure in cellular biology, houses an array of transporters, or carrier proteins, interspersed within its lipid bilayer. These proteins play a crucial role in solute transport through facilitated diffusion, a form of passive diffusion that uses transporters to move the molecules across the membrane.
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...

Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport

Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport

Certain large, lipid-insoluble drug molecules that resemble amino acids, peptides, or glucose, require specialized carrier proteins to facilitate their diffusion across cell membranes. This transport can occur through either facilitated diffusion, which does not require energy input, or active transport, which does require energy input.
Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that utilizes human Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters. These transporters bind to the drug, undergo structural...

Active Transport

Active Transport

Active transport is a critical biological process that allows cells to move solutes against an electrochemical gradient. This process requires direct energy input and is characterized by its selectivity, saturability, and susceptibility to competitive inhibition.
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Transport proteins.

Science signaling·2013

Same author

Intercellular transport.

Science signaling·2013

Same author

Charged membranes.

Science signaling·2013

Same author

The Ras-MAPK signal transduction pathway.

Science signaling·2010

Same author

The cAMP signal transduction pathway.

Science signaling·2010

Same author

The inositol trisphosphate (IP3) signal transduction pathway.

Science signaling·2010

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology

Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology

Published on: May 11, 2013

Coupled transport protein systems.

Jack D Thatcher¹

¹West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, 400 North Lee Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901, USA. jthatcher@osteo.wvsom.edu

Science Signaling

|April 18, 2013

Summary

Animated lessons illustrate transport protein interactions in coupled systems. Key examples include gastric acid secretion, intestinal glucose absorption, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function in pulmonary clearance, aiding collegiate science education.

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Physiology

Background:

Transport proteins are crucial for cellular functions.
Coupled transport systems regulate vital physiological processes.
Understanding these mechanisms is essential for various scientific disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide animated lessons demonstrating the function of transport proteins in coupled systems.
To illustrate specific examples of physiological effects driven by these interactions.
To offer educational resources for collegiate-level science courses.

Main Methods:

Development of animated lessons focusing on specific transport mechanisms.
Depiction of gastric acid secretion via gastric pumps.

More Related Videos

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

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

Published on: August 16, 2016

High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies

High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies

Published on: September 29, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology

Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology

Published on: May 11, 2013

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

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

Published on: August 16, 2016

High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies

High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies

Published on: September 29, 2023

Illustration of glucose absorption in intestinal epithelial cells.

Explanation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function in pulmonary clearance.

Main Results:

Animations effectively demonstrate the complex interactions of transport proteins.
Specific physiological processes like acid secretion, nutrient absorption, and mucus clearance are visually explained.
The resources highlight the role of CFTR in maintaining lung health.

Conclusions:

Animated lessons are effective tools for teaching complex transport protein functions.
These resources enhance understanding of coupled transport systems in physiology.
The animations are valuable for introductory biology, biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, pharmacology, and physiology courses.