help button home button Biophys. J.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biophysical Journal 73: 733-745 (1997)
© 1997 the Biophysical Society

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow A correction has been published
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Richter, S
Right arrow Articles by Bernhardt, I
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Richter, S
Right arrow Articles by Bernhardt, I

The monovalent cation "leak" transport in human erythrocytes: an electroneutral exchange process.

S Richter, J Hamann, D Kummerow and I Bernhardt

Biophysics Section, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.

ABSTRACT

The mechanism of the "ground permeability" of the human erythrocyte membrane for K+ and Na+ was investigated with respect to a possible involvement of a previously unidentified specific transport pathway, because earlier studies showed that it cannot be explained on the basis of simple electrodiffusion. In particular, we analyzed and described the increase in the (ouabain+bumetanide+EGTA)-insensitive unidirectional K+ and Na+ influxes as well as effluxes (defined as "leak" fluxes) observed in erythrocytes suspended in low-ionic-strength media. Using a carrier-type model and taking into account the influence of the ionic strength on the outer surface potential according to the Gouy-Chapman theory (i.e., the ion concentration near the membrane surface), we are able to describe the altered "leak" fluxes as an electroneutral process. In addition, we can show indirectly that this electroneutral flux is due to an exchange of monovalent cations with protons. This pathway is different from the amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger present in the human red blood cell membrane and can be characterized as a K+(Na+)/H+ exchanger.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
M. I. Lindinger, P. L. Horn, and S. P. Grudzien
Exercise-induced stimulation of K+ transport in human erythrocytes
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1999; 87(6): 2157 - 2167.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
C. Duranton, S. M. Huber, and F. Lang
Oxidation induces a Cl--dependent cation conductance in human red blood cells
J. Physiol., March 15, 2002; 539(3): 847 - 855.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Biophysical Society.