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Updated: May 31, 2025

Application of Electrophysiology Measurement to Study the Activity of Electro-Neutral Transporters
Published on: February 3, 2018
Physiological roles of chloride ions in bodily and cellular functions
1Medical Research Institute, Kyoto Industrial Health Association, General Incorporated Foundation, 67 Kitatsuboi-Cho, Nishinokyo, Nakagyo-Ku, 604-8472, Kyoto, Japan; Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, 525-8577, Kusatsu, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-Ku, 602-8566, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract:
Physiological roles of Cl-, a major anion in the body, are not well known compared with those of cations. This review article introduces: (1) roles of Cl- in bodily and cellular functions; (2) the range of cytosolic Cl- concentration ([Cl-]c); (3) whether [Cl-]c could change with cell volume change under an isosmotic condition; (4) whether [Cl-]c could change under conditions where multiple Cl- transporters and channels contribute to Cl- influx and efflux in an isosmotic state; (5) whether the change in [Cl-]c could be large enough to act as signals; (6) effects of Cl- on cytoskeletal tubulin polymerization through inhibition of GTPase activity and tubulin polymerization-dependent biological activity; (7) roles of cytosolic Cl- in cell proliferation; (8) Cl--regulatory mechanisms of ciliary motility; (9) roles of Cl- in sweet/umami taste receptors; (10) Cl--regulatory mechanisms of with-no-lysine kinase (WNK); (11) roles of Cl- in regulation of epithelial Na+ transport; (12) relationship between roles of Cl- and H+ in body functions.
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