Sodium biological function

Ascorbic acid (1) has many biological functions besides its well-known antioxidant activity. It is a functional component of many pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations. Antioxidants such as glutathione (45) or sodium metabisulfite (Na2S205) are added... 

The behavior of metals as atoms or ions deeply affects the electrochemical reactions they undergo, and similarly affects the metabolism of plants and animals. Iron, copper, cobalt, potassium, and sodium are examples of metals that are essential to biological function. Some metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead, barium, chromium, and beryllium are highly toxic. 

Humans and other vertebrates must have sodium and potassium in their diets because many biological functions are controlled by sodium and potassium ions. Potassium ions are the most common positive ions within cells. Sodium ions are the most common positive ions in the fluid that surrounds cells. When a nerve cell is stimulated, sodium ions flow into the cell and potassium ions flow out. This flow of ions across the cell membrane carries the nerve impulse along the cell. After the impulse passes, a compound attached to the cell membrane uses energy to move the ions back across the membrane so that they are in position for the next impulse. 

Sodium and potassium are the most abundant alkali metals. Many biological functions are controlled by sodium and potassium ions. 

Sodium is a chemical element, and as such, caimot be synthesised by the body. It is, therefore, an essential nutrient that must be provided by the diet. Sodium is required by the body for several important biological functions including regulation of osmotic pressure within individual compartments of the body, active transport of many essential nutrients into cells, as well as in neurotransmission processes. 

Nanochannels and ion transport across nanochannels is a very common feature in living cells [1]. Cells contain various internal and external membranes made out of lipid molecules. These are called lipid bilayers. The nanochannels are made of proteins which form a pore on the lipid bilayer. Various kinds of such channels are known with different biological functions. For example, nerve cells contains channels that are permeable to Sodium, Pottasium or Calcium ions. Channels open or close in response to various factors. For example, voltage gated channels open in response to a change in the electrical potential across it. 

These include nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, neuronal calcium channels, muscle sodium channels, vasopressin receptors, and iV-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Some general features of the structure, function, and evolution of biologically active peptides isolated from Conus venom are presented. 

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