Chapter 11, Problem 2P

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the statement, “Transporters saturate at high concentrations of the transported molecule when all their binding sites are occupied; channels, on the other hand, do not bind the ions they transport and thus the flux of ions through a channel does not saturate.” is true or false.

Concept introduction:

Cells utilize specialized membrane transport proteins that mediate the transmembrane traffic called transporters and channels. Transporters undergo sequential conformational changes to transport specific small molecules across the cell membrane. Channels form narrow pore by allowing passive transmembrane movement, primarily of water and small inorganic ions.