Article
Article
Ionophore
Article By:
Veale, Chris A. Zeneca, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.757310
A substance that can transfer ions from a hydrophilic medium such as water into a hydrophobic medium, such as hexane or a biological membrane, where the ions typically would not be soluble, also known as an ion carrier. The ions transferred are usually metal ions [for example, lithium (Li+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), or calcium (Ca2+)]; but there are ionophores that promote the transfer of other ions, such as ammonium ion (NH4+) or amines of biological interest. See also: Ion
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