active transport

active transport
active transport n movement of a chemical substance by the expenditure of energy against a gradient in concentration or electrical potential across a plasma membrane

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(in biochemistry) an energy-dependent process in which certain substances (including ions, some drugs, and amino acids) are able to cross cell membranes against a concentration gradient. The process is inhibited by substances that interfere with cellular metabolism (e.g. high doses of digitalis).

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the movement of substances across the cell membrane, usually up a concentration gradient, produced by the expenditure of metabolic energy. See primary active t. and secondary active t. and cf. passive t.

(A) Passive transport exemplified by diffusion of potassium ions across the plasma membrane, through specific ion channels, down a concentration gradient; (B) active transport exemplified by the cellular sodium pump, which uses ATP hydrolysis to create gradients of sodium and potassium across the plasma membrane.


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • active transport —  Active Transport  Активный транспорт   Перенос вещества через клеточную или внутриклеточную мембрану (трансмембранный активный транспорт) или через слой клеток (трансцеллюлярный активный транспорт), протекающий против концентрационного или… …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • active transport — n. the passage of ions or molecules from one side of a cell membrane to another in opposition to inhibiting conditions, as osmotic equilibrium, by means of energy released in cell metabolism …   English World dictionary

  • Active transport — This article is about transport in cellular biology. For human transport systems, see active transportation. The action of the sodium potassium pump is an example of primary active transport. Active transport is the movement of a substance… …   Wikipedia

  • active transport — Often defined as transport up an electrochemical gradient. More precisely defined as unidirectional or vectorial transport produced within a membrane bound protein complex by coupling an energy yielding process to a tranport process. In primary… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • active transport — aktyvioji pernaša statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Ištirpusios medžiagos pernešimas per biologinę membraną, kuriam reikalinga energija. atitikmenys: angl. active transport vok. aktiv Transport, m rus. активный перенос,… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • active transport — aktyvioji pernaša statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. active transport vok. aktiv Transport, m rus. активный перенос, m; активный транспорт, m pranc. transport actif, m …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • active transport — aktyvioji pernaša statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Ištirpusios medžiagos pernaša per biologinę membraną panaudojant energiją. atitikmenys: angl. active transport rus. активный транспорт …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • active transport — noun transport of a substance (as a protein or drug) across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient; requires an expenditure of energy • Topics: ↑drug • Hypernyms: ↑transport …   Useful english dictionary

  • active transport — The transport of solute molecules across a membrane against an electrochemical gradient; it requires a carrier protein and the input of energy …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • secondary active transport — active transport in which the movement of a second substance is coupled to the movement of a substance undergoing primary active transport, as in cotransport and countertransport …   Medical dictionary

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