Mechanisms and models of the active transport of ions and the transformation of energy in intracellular compartments

Abstract

Various transport models and mechanisms for ions from different compartments of the cell are considered. Compartments such as mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, sarco- and endoplasmic reticulum and vacuoles are considered. It is shown that an adequate description of the compartment-based substance transport can be developed using thermodynamically correct models. Such models are used to calculate both the concentrations of ions in such compartments and the resting potential on their membranes. The problem of the complexity of transport systems is also discussed. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.