What Is A Carrier Protein?

A carrier protein is a protein which is responsible for transporting specific substances through the cell membrane in which it is fixed and into the cell. Different type of proteins is required to transport different type of substances. Each carrier cell is designed to recognize only one type of substance or a group of similar substances. For example: diffusion of sugar, amino acids, nucleoside; uptake of glucose.

Carrier proteins are protein molecules that are attached to the membrane of a cell or an organelle. They interact with the membrane and transport specific substances across the cell membrane. These carrier proteins transport against the concentration gradient out of or into the cell membrane. One example of a carrier protein is Acyl carrier protein; it is an important component in fatty acid and polyketide.

It is important to note that carrier proteins rely on a conformation change. I.e. A change in their structure. This is in contrast to channel proteins, which do not rely on a change in conformation to translocate (move) a substance from one side to the other. Channels are effectively pores that can be opened or closed and therefore control the movement of substances through them.

Carrier proteins are types of membrane proteins which carry a certain material in the blood or through the cell membrane. Carrier proteins are entrenched in the cell membrane and transport materials against the concentration gradient out of, or into the cell. Hence, carrier proteins undertake facilitated diffusion and actively deal in transportation. Every carrier protein is devised to distinguish on substance or one set of substances which resemble each other.

The ACP or the acyl carrier protein is a vital part in fatty acids as well as polyketide biosynthesis with the developing chain connected during the course of synthesis as a thiol ester. The protein is displayed in the inactive apo structure.