Transport across membranes physiological significance

Under physiological conditions, i.e., in neutral aqueous solution with a. significant p02, ferric ion (Fe ) is the predominant species and ferrous ion (Fe ) can only exist if protected from oxidation by specific coordination (Schneider 1988). Transient, enzymatic reduction of Fe " serves as a control point for the exchange of iron, for example in the mobilization of iron from ferritin stores and transport across lipid membranes. This is important in that most chelators presently in use or under investigation display sped-... 

Normal cellular physiology depends on the ability of ions to move across cell membranes. Ion channels are highly specialized transport proteins that facilitate this movement by forming regulated ion-permeable routes through the membranes of nearly all excitable and non-excitable cells. They are found in plasma membranes and in the membranes of intracellular organelles. Plasma membrane ion channels display significant structural and functional diversity (Ashcroft 2006) and... 

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