Cell-biological Effects Resulting from Ion Fluxes

1 Cell-biological Effects Resulting from Ion Fluxes 

Certain cellular processes are specifically influenced by gradients of monovalent ions across the plasma membrane. It appears that stimulation of some such processes are actually counteracted by concomitant flux. Ca -dependent processes in turn may be abrogated when pores are large enough to permit rapid egress of cytoplasmic proteins. Therefore, it is useful to differentiate between three types of pores (a) those that are selectively permissive for monovalent ions (e.g. staphylococcal alpha-toxin) (b) those that are permissive for Ca and small molecules, but not for proteins (e.g. E. coli hemolysin) and (c) large pores that allow passage of macromolecules (e.g. streptolysin O). 

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