Energizing Epithelial Transport with the Vacuolar H+-ATPase

Abstract

The Ussing model has long provided the conceptual foundation for understanding epithelial transport mechanisms energized by the Na+-K+-ATPase. Plasma membranes may also use the vacuolar (V-type) H+-ATPase as the primary energy source of membrane and epithelial transport. A pure electrogenic pump, the V-type H+-ATPase energizes not only membranes it inhabits but also other transport pathways via electrical coupling.