A possible transport mechanism for aluminum in biological membranes

J Inorg Biochem. 2004 Jun;98(6):1169-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2004.03.003.

Abstract

The transport mechanism of aluminum in lysosomes extracted from rat liver has been investigated in this paper. The experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that aluminum is transported inside lysosomes in the form of an Al(OH)(3) electroneutral compound, the driving force being the internal acidic pH. This mechanism could help to explain the presence of aluminum in cells in many illnesses.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Ion Transport / physiology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / physiology*
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Rats

Substances

  • Aluminum