Ion transport across biomembranes and model membranes

The milestones formerly achieved in the comprehension of ion transport across biological membranes on the basis of electrochemical concepts and/or instrumentation are briefly summarized. The various types of model membranes presently employed for the investigation of ion transport across biomembranes are reviewed and their requirements for the incorporation and functional investigation of membrane proteins are examined. The potential of model membranes for the elucidation of many problems in molecular membrane biology and for the realization of microarray sensors individually addressable to membrane proteins by electrochemical means is assessed.