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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...

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...

Secondary Active Transport

Secondary Active Transport

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...

Transcellular Transport of Solutes

Transcellular Transport of Solutes

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...

The Significance of Membrane Transport

The Significance of Membrane Transport

The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...

ABC Transporters: Exporter

ABC Transporters: Exporter

ATP-binding cassette or ABC transporter is the largest superfamily of integral membrane proteins. The transporters have transmembrane-binding domains (TMDs) and nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). The TMDs are specific to their substrates, whereas the NBDs are similar to engines that complete ATP hydrolysis to complete the substrate transport. They can be full transporters consisting of two TMDs and NBDs, half transporters with one TMD and NBD, while some encoded with a single TMD or NBD are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Selection of Transporter-Targeted Inhibitory Nanobodies by Solid-Supported-Membrane SSM-Based Electrophysiology

Selection of Transporter-Targeted Inhibitory Nanobodies by Solid-Supported-Membrane SSM-Based Electrophysiology

Published on: May 3, 2021

SLC26 Anion Transporters.

Eric R Geertsma¹, Dominik Oliver^2,3

¹Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany. geertsma@mpi-cbg.de.

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology

|November 10, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) proteins transport various anions and are crucial for human health. This review covers recent discoveries in SLC26 structure, function, and disease relevance.

Keywords:

Anion transport Bicarbonate Chloride Elevator alternating-access transport Epithelial ion transport Intestinal disease Intestine Ion homeostasis Kidney Pancreas STAS Solute carriers Sulfate Thyroid Transport mechanism

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Application of Electrophysiology Measurement to Study the Activity of Electro-Neutral Transporters

Application of Electrophysiology Measurement to Study the Activity of Electro-Neutral Transporters

Published on: February 3, 2018

A Proteoliposome-Based Efflux Assay to Determine Single-molecule Properties of Cl- Channels and Transporters

A Proteoliposome-Based Efflux Assay to Determine Single-molecule Properties of Cl- Channels and Transporters

Published on: April 20, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Selection of Transporter-Targeted Inhibitory Nanobodies by Solid-Supported-Membrane SSM-Based Electrophysiology

Selection of Transporter-Targeted Inhibitory Nanobodies by Solid-Supported-Membrane SSM-Based Electrophysiology

Published on: May 3, 2021

Application of Electrophysiology Measurement to Study the Activity of Electro-Neutral Transporters

Application of Electrophysiology Measurement to Study the Activity of Electro-Neutral Transporters

Published on: February 3, 2018

A Proteoliposome-Based Efflux Assay to Determine Single-molecule Properties of Cl- Channels and Transporters

A Proteoliposome-Based Efflux Assay to Determine Single-molecule Properties of Cl- Channels and Transporters

Published on: April 20, 2015

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Physiology

Background:

Solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) comprises diverse anion transporters vital across life.
These transporters move anions like chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, and organic dicarboxylates.
Human SLC26 proteins are implicated in severe diseases, underscoring their physiological significance.

Approach:

This review synthesizes recent findings on SLC26 protein structure and function.
It summarizes the physiological roles of human SLC26 family members.

Key Points:

SLC26 transporters exhibit broad anion specificity, including organic dicarboxylates.
Ten functional SLC26 homologs exist in the human genome.
Dysfunction of human SLC26 transporters is linked to significant pathologies.

Conclusions:

Understanding SLC26 structure-function relationships is key to addressing associated diseases.
Further research into human SLC26 proteins will illuminate their critical physiological roles.