Plasma membrane resistance

Based on the relative values for the two permeability coefficients, the resistance to the diffusion of HC03 across the plasma membrane is about 5 x 104 times higher than that for C02, for example, 5 x 106 s m-1. Because of the extremely high resistance for HCO3-, we conclude that bicarbonate does not diffuse across the plasma membrane at a rate necessary to sustain photosynthesis. The plasma membrane resistance calculated for CO2 (100 s m-1) is relatively small (Table 8-4), which suggests that diffusion of CO2 is adequate for moving this substrate of photosynthesis across the plasma membrane. 

The vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) were identified in a screen for genes that confer resistance to the parkinsonian neurotoxin MPP+ [2]. The resistance apparently results from sequestration of the toxin inside vesicles, away from its primary site of action in mitochondria. In addition to recognizing MPP+, the transporter s mediate the uptake of dopamine, ser otonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine by neurons and endocrine cells. Structurally, the VMATs show no relationship to plasma membrane monoamine transporters. 

Fig. 1.—Diagrammatic Representation of the Three Steps in the Taste-cell Transduction. Step 1, interaction of stimulus (S) with membrane-bound receptor (R) to form stimulus-receptor complex (SR) step 2, conformational change (SR) to (SR), brought about by interaction of S with R (this change initiates a change in plasma-membrane conformation of taste cells, probably below the level of the tight junction) and step 3, conformational changes of the membrane result in lowered membrane resistance, and the consequential influx on intracellular ionic species, probably Na. This influx generates the receptor potential which induces synaptic vesicular release to the innervating, sensory nerve, leading to the generator potential.

Biochemical studies of plasma membrane Na /H exchangers have been directed at two major goals (1) identification of amino acids that are involved in the transport mechanism and (2) identification and characterization of the transport pro-tein(s). To date, most studies have been performed on the amiloride-resistant form of Na /H" exchanger that is present in apical or brush border membrane vesicles from mammalian kidney, probably because of the relative abundance of transport activity in this starting material. However, some studies have also been performed on the amiloride-sensitive isoform present in non-epithelial cells. 

Attempts to study the entry of ES products into cells using markers of fluid phase endocytosis yielded unexpected results. When larvae browse resistant IEC-6 cells in the presence of extracellular fluorescent dextran, dextran enters the cytoplasm of a significant proportion of the cells in the mono-layer (Butcher et al., 2000). The parameters of dextran entry are most compatible with the conclusion that larvae wound the plasma membranes of IEC-6 cells that is, they create transient breaches in the membrane that allow impermeant markers to enter the cell (McNeil and Ito, 1989). Wounding is considered to be a common occurrence in intestinal epithelia (McNeil and Ito, 1989). Injured cells are able to heal their wounds by recruiting vesicles to seal the breach (Steinhardt et al., 1994). In an experimental system, healing allows the injured cell to retain cytoplasmic dextran. In epithelial cell cultures inoculated with T. spiralis larvae, the relationship between glycoprotein delivery and injury of plasma membranes is not clear, i.e. dextran-laden cells do not always stain with Tyv-specific antibodies and... 

Bhat, R. A., Miklis, M., Schmelzer, E., Schulze-Lefert, P. and Panstruga, R. (2005). Recruitment and interaction dynamics of plant penetration resistance components in a plasma membrane microdomain. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 3135 40. 

The functions of the calcium-storage capacity of the ER are at least threefold the association of Ca2+ with Ca2+-binding proteins in the ER is part of a chaperone function that is essential for normal protein synthesis the rapid rate of Ca2+ uptake by endoplasmic pumps provides shortterm cytoplasmic Ca2+ buffering that resists untoward and transient changes in [Ca2+] and, finally, many signaling pathways employ elevated [Ca2+] to activate physiological processes. Extensive Ca2+ release from ER is coupled to activation of Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane, a process known as capacitative calcium entry, which is discussed below. 

Zhang, Y., Schuetz, J.D., Elmquist, W.F. and Miller, D.W. (2004) Plasma membrane localization of multidrug resistance-associated protein homologs in brain capillary endothelial cells. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 311, 449-455. 

Zaman, G.J., Flens, M.J., van Leusden, M.R., de Haas, M., Mulder, H.S., Lankelma, J., Pinedo, H.M., Scheper, R. J., Baas, F. and Broxterman, H.J., (1994) The human multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP is a plasma membrane drug-efflux pump. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 91, 8822-8826. 

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