Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 18, 2025

A Proteoliposome-Based Efflux Assay to Determine Single-molecule Properties of Cl- Channels and Transporters
Published on: April 20, 2015
Cation-coupled chloride cotransporters: chemical insights and disease implications
Corinne Portioli1,2, Manuel José Ruiz Munevar2, Marco De Vivo2
1Brain Development and Disease Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
Abstract:
Cation-coupled chloride cotransporters (CCCs) modulate the transport of sodium and/or potassium cations coupled with chloride anions across the cell membrane. CCCs thus help regulate intracellular ionic concentration and consequent cell volume homeostasis. This has been largely exploited in the past to develop diuretic drugs that act on CCCs expressed in the kidney. However, a growing wealth of evidence has demonstrated that CCCs are also critically involved in a great variety of other pathologies, motivating most recent drug discovery programs targeting CCCs. Here, we examine the structure-function relationship of CCCs. By linking recent high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data with older biochemical/functional studies on CCCs, we discuss the mechanistic insights and opportunities to design selective CCC modulators to treat diverse pathologies.
Related Concept Videos
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct...
Secondary Active Transport
Facilitated Transport
Active Transport
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...

