Epithelial Transport Physiology

The general theme of Epithelial Transport Physiology is epithelial transport of molecules and ions, which includes the regulation of these mechanisms either directly, through secondary messengers, or via nuclear commands. Biologic transport of ions and, or, molecules across epithelial bio-membranes are mediated by proteins or protein-based molecules. Over the past forty to forty-five years, the primary structures of many of these proteins have been elucidated. One of the universalities that has emerged during this investigative process is the commonality of function amongst epithelial transporters up and down the phylogenetic tree of animals. The central subject of Epithelial Transport Physiology is to provide a comprehensive, contemporary review of epithelial transport and the responsible transporter proteins, while elucidating the wide spectrum of new methods examining epithelial transporters such as patch clamping, reconstitution, molecular biology and molecular physiology that are now available for the application to epithelial plasma membrane systems.

Contributors to this volume were chosen by the editor, George A. Gerencser, and were selected for their outstanding accomplishments in the field, and for their clarity and breadth of presentation. Epithelial Transport Physiology is directed to both basic and clinical scientists working in membrane transport and related areas, to graduate students and advanced undergraduates seeking a broad purview of the subject, and to other investigators and potential investigators seeking a vista of the new frontiers of molecular epithelial transporters.