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Endogenous transmembrane electrical gradients associated with human placental microvillous membrane vesicles
Author(s) -
Shennan DB,
Reid D
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1991.sp003494
Subject(s) - vesicle , endogeny , membrane potential , transmembrane protein , biophysics , membrane , chemistry , ionic strength , donnan potential , biochemistry , biology , electrode , receptor , aqueous solution , electrolyte
Experiments were designed to test for the presence of an endogenous (i.e. Donnan) electrical potential in human placental microvillous membrane vesicles. Vesicles were capable of passively accumulating K+ (86Rb+) above unity in a manner which was influenced by both pH and ionic strength of the medium. It appears that the transmembrane electrical potential is generated by the presence of fixed negative charges associated with the vesicle interior.