Electrochemical gradient
Electrochemical Gradient
The Electrochemical Gradient (pronunciation: e-lek-tro-ke-mi-kal gra-dee-ent) is a term used in Cell Biology and Biochemistry to describe the gradient of electrochemical potential, usually for an ionic species, across a Cell Membrane.
Etymology
The term 'Electrochemical Gradient' is derived from the words 'Electro', which is related to electricity, 'Chemical', pertaining to chemistry, and 'Gradient', which refers to a rate of increase or decrease in the value of a variable or function.
Definition
An Electrochemical Gradient is a gradient of electrochemical potential for an ionic species across a membrane. It is the product of a Chemical Gradient and an Electrical Gradient, both of which contribute to the overall potential gradient. The Electrochemical Gradient plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including the generation of ATP in Cellular Respiration, and the conduction of electrical signals in neurons.
Related Terms
- Chemical Gradient: A difference in concentration of a substance across a distance.
- Electrical Gradient: A difference in electrical potential across a membrane.
- Ion: An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
- Cell Membrane: A biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment.
- ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, a complex organic chemical that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells.
- Cellular Respiration: A set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP.
- Neuron: A specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Electrochemical gradient
- Wikipedia's article - Electrochemical gradient
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