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Water transport across biological membranes
Author(s) -
Haines Thomas H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(94)00470-6
Subject(s) - membrane , diffusion , chemistry , water transport , biological membrane , lipid bilayer , biophysics , passive transport , osmosis , biochemistry , water flow , thermodynamics , biology , environmental engineering , environmental science , physics
The rate of the lateral diffusion of straight‐chain phospholipids predicts the rate of water diffusion through bilayers. A new model of lipid dynamics integrates these processes. Substances such as cholesterol that reduce water diffision proportionally reduce lateral diffusion. The model yields a number of predictions about the dynamics of the lipids at the T m and suggests different mechanisms for how water diffuses across bilayers of other‐than‐straight‐chain lipids, and how proteins bind to membranes. A second recent development in water transport across biological membranes is the discovery of a ubiquitous family of water transport proteins that facilitate large‐volume water translocation. Like water diffusion through lipid bilayers, water transport by these proteins is directed by osmosis and is therefore under the control of ATP and ion pumps. The presence of water transport proteins in membranes is often regulated by hormones.