ionophore Biol.
(aɪˈɒnəʊfɔə(r))
[f. iono- + -phore.]
An agent which is able to transport ions across a lipid membrane in a cell. So ionoˈphorous a.
| 1967 B. C. Pressman et al. in Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. LVIII. 1954 It is our conclusion that both the valinomycin and the nigericin classes of antibiotics induce alkali ion permeability in mitochondrial and other systems by carrying ions across lipid barriers as lipid-soluble complexes. Accordingly we propose to classify them generically as ionophores or ionophorous agents. 1970 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. CCXLV. 5606 (heading) Effect of nucleo⁓tides on the transport of alkali metal cations catalyzed by ionophorous antibiotics across mitochondrial membranes. 1971 Nature 5 Nov. 12/2 Cyclic peptides such as gramicidin-S or alamethecin which can act as ionophores..in membranes. |