Biomembrane transport kinetics

Transporters, particularly those carrying nonlipophilic species across biomembranes or model membranes, can be regarded as vectorial catalysts (and are also called carriers, translocators, permeases, pumps, and ports [e.g., symports and antiports]). Many specialized approaches and techniques have been developed to characterize such systems. This is reflected by the fact that there are currently twenty-three volumes in the Methods in Enzymology series (vols. 21,22,52-56,81,88,96-98,125-127,156-157, 171-174, and 191-192) devoted to biomembranes and their constituent proteins. Chapters in each of these volumes will be of interest to those investigating transport kinetics. Other volumes are devoted to ion channels (207), membrane fusion techniques (220 and 221), lipids (14, 35, 71, and 72), plant cell membranes (148), and a volume on the reconstitution of intracellular transport (219). See Ion Pumps... 

The permeation of most drugs through cellular membranes is by the process of passive diffusion, a nonsaturable process that follows first-order kinetics. Concentration gradient and lipid solubility of the drug are important determinants of the rate of diffusion. Only a few drug molecules are substrates for active transport processes (eg, tubular secretion of beta-lactam antibiotics) these are saturable at high concentrations. Only very small ions (eg, Li+) or drugs (eg, ethanol) may penetrate biomembranes via aqueous pores. 

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