WANI Dictionary

Channel

Channels (channel proteins) are a group of transporters (membrane transport proteins).

Transporters facilitate the transport of specific molecules through the biological membrane. Channles form an aqueous pore in the biological membrane, allowing specific molecules to pass through the membrane. Channels do not undergo major conformational changes during this process, and their bindings to the target molecules is generally weak. In contrast to channels, carrier proteins, another major group of transporters, undergo significant conformational changes during transport.

Definitions in the literature

• Channel proteins, in contrast, interact with the solute to be transported much more weakly. They form aqueous pores that extend across the lipid bilayer; when these pores are open, they allow specific solutes (usually inorganic ions of appropriate size and charge) to pass through them and thereby cross the membrane [1].