Ionophores

Chemical agents that increase the permeability of biological or artificial lipid membranes to specific ions. Most ionophores are relatively small organic molecules that act as mobile carriers within membranes or coalesce to form ion permeable channels across membranes. Many are antibiotics, and many act as uncoupling agents by short-circuiting the proton gradient across mitochondrial membranes.

Year introduced: 1976

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Tree Number(s): D27.505.519.562.374, D27.720.395

MeSH Unique ID: D007476

Entry Terms:

• Ionophore

Previous Indexing:

• Antibiotics (1966-1975)
• Biological Transport (1966-1975)
• Uncoupling Agents (1972-1975)

See Also:

• Cell Membrane Permeability

All MeSH Categories
Chemicals and Drugs Category
Chemical Actions and Uses
Pharmacologic Actions
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Membrane Transport Modulators
Ionophores
Calcium Ionophores
Potassium Ionophores
Proton Ionophores
Sodium Ionophores

All MeSH Categories
Chemicals and Drugs Category
Chemical Actions and Uses
Specialty Uses of Chemicals
Ionophores
Calcium Ionophores
Potassium Ionophores
Proton Ionophores
Sodium Ionophores