Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics Laboratory Journal 2000 Dr. D. A. Doyle

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Declan A. Doyle

Ion channels and transporters.

Introduction

Biological function depends to a large extent on the movement of ions across biomembranes. Electrical and hormonal signalling generally involves a transient redistribution of ions across a bilayer. Typically, potassium ions have a higher cytoplasmic concentration as compared with the extracellular fluid whereas the concentration gradients for sodium, calcium, and chloride are opposite to that of potassium. In this laboratory our goal is to gain an understanding of the mechanism of ion transport in its various forms.

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