title: Why bicarbonate?
abstract: Bicarbonate is a simple single carbon molecule that plays surprisingly important roles in diverse biological processes. Among these are photosynthesis, the Krebs cycle, whole-body and cellular pH regulation, and volume regulation. Since bicarbonate is charged it is not permeable to lipid bilayers. Mammalian membranes thus contain bicarbonate transport proteins to facilitate the specific transmembrane movement of HCO3(-). This review provides a wide-ranging view of the biochemistry of bicarbonate and its membrane transporters, revealing what makes the study of bicarbonate transport such a rewarding activity.
authors.affiliation: Membrane Protein Research Group, Department of Physiology and Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. joe.casey@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017136:Ion Transport; D008954:Models, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases