Simple model can explain self-inhibition of red cell anion exchange

Ion translocation in red cell anion exchange is assumed to occur by means of an alternating access mechanism, in which a critical binding site for the transported ion alternates between two conformational states, each accessible from only one side of the membrane. If this alternating site is located within the transport protein at some distance from one or both surfaces of the membrane, an access channel is required to connect the alternating site to the adjacent bulk solution. This automatically leads to inhibition of transport at high concentrations of the transported ion because release of the ion from the alternating site can occur only via unoccupied channel sites.