Abstract
Living cells require fuels which must be able to get in, and they produce end products, including water, which must be able to leave; in growing cells the input exceeds the output, whereas in the metabolic steady state (usually chosen for transport experiments) input and output are equal. Cells need to control their internal concentrations of the small molecules, or anions, which begin metabolic sequences, and in some cases small molecules which are products of metabolic sequences; control of these concentrations is an essential contribution to the regulation of the intervening metabolic sequences. Cells also contain ions such as Na+, K+, and Cl~ which, by their nature, cannot enter into metabolic reactions to give changed products, but may partake in catalysis as activators or inhibitors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Bibliography
Mitchell, P. (1967) in Florkin, M. and Stotz, E.H. Comprehensive Biochemistry. Vol. 22, Chapter IV. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
A dialectical review of vectorial metabolism, full of useful information.
Smith, H.W. (1953, reprint 1961) From fish to philosopher. Doubleday, New York.
Metabolism of salt and water affects everything from prehistoric fishes to the virtuoso pianist’s fingers.
Edsall, J.T. and Wyman, J. (1958) Biophysical Chemistry, Academic Press, New York. Chapter 1 is on the geochemical background to biology.
Ruch, T.C. and Patton, L.D. (1965) Physiology and Biophysics. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Chapters 1,2 and 43, about ion transport generally, and in nerve and kidney, are particularly relevant.
Eisenman, G. (1965) in 23rd International Congress of Physiological Sciences, page 489,
Excerpta Medica Foundation, Amsterdam. A review of the biological literature on cation selectivity.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1973 M. Davies
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Davies, M. (1973). Concepts underlie models. In: Functions of Biological Membranes. Outline Studies in Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3252-5_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3252-5_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-11350-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3252-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive