Tag Archives: channels

Why are potassium ions more permeable than sodium ions?

By | July 20, 2021

Ion channels have three important properties: They are selective to specific ions They open and close to specific stimuli such as electrical, chemical, or mechanical signals They conduct ions across the membrane. The fastest flow of ions across channels is comparable to the fastest turnover of enzymes such as carbonic anhydrase or catalase. The turnover… Read More »

Plasma membrane – More than a barrier

By | July 14, 2021

Plasma membrane is the outermost covering of a human (animal) cell that not only protects the internal organelles but also separates them form the external environment. However, it is more than just a barrier which separates cell from their neighbors. It performs quite a number of other tasks with the help of some proteins, glycolipids… Read More »