transportprotein

Transport proteins are membrane-embedded proteins that facilitate the movement of ions, nutrients, and other molecules across biological membranes. They enable selective exchange between the inside and outside of cells and organelles, supporting nutrient uptake, waste disposal, signaling, and the maintenance of electrochemical gradients.

There are three main classes of transport proteins. Channel proteins form pores that allow passive movement of substances down their concentration or electrochemical gradients, as in ion channels and aquaporins. Carrier proteins, or transporters, bind a specific substrate and undergo conformational changes to shuttle it across the membrane; this includes facilitated diffusion where no energy is used. Pumps or primary active transporters use energy, typically from ATP hydrolysis, to move substrates against gradients, such as Na+/K+-ATPase or Ca2+-ATPase. Secondary active transport uses existing gradients created by primary pumps to drive the transport of other solutes, through symporters (same direction) or antiporters (opposite directions).

Structurally, most transport proteins are integral membrane proteins with hydrophobic segments spanning the lipid bilayer. They often operate via the alternating-access model, switching between outward-facing and inward-facing conformations to transfer substrates. Channels may require gating cues such as voltage, ligands, or mechanical stress.

Examples include aquaporins for water, GLUT transporters for facilitated glucose diffusion, voltage-gated ion channels for nerve signaling, and transporters like SGLT (sodium-glucose co-transport) as secondary active transporters. Solute carriers (SLC) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are major protein superfamilies of transporters. Transport proteins are essential for physiology and are targets for drugs and therapies, with defects linked to various channelopathies and metabolic disorders.