ahh86
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 1
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I have a problem with this question.
A fundamental property of cells is that the composition of the internal environment (intracellular) differs from the composition of the external environment (extracellular). Cells expend energy (in the form of ATP) to generate and maintain this difference (disequilibrium). The plasma membrane of cells (the boundary between the intracellular and extracellular environments) contains proteins that form water-filled channels (pores) and provide direct communication between the intracellular and extracellular environments.
What roles do channel proteins play in generating and maintaining the disequilibrium between intracellular and extracellular environments?
How is it possible for channel proteins to provide direct communication between the two environments and, at the same time, prevent the intracellular and extracellular components from mixing completely (which would collapse the disequilibrium between the two environments)?
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| nandrolone
Forum Junior
Topics: 8
Posts: 51
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These channels are regulated right?
eg the GLUT 4 channels are dependant on blood insulin levels which in turn depends on blood glucose value. They are all tightly regulated. Hence the precise balance.
There are very few ones like ungated K channels which are always open. But even their expression would be regulated by various factors acting on DNA also the physical properties of K also made use of....
Everything istaken care of so we needn't worry. The problem arises only when it gets awry and thats why we are here for.......
bye
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