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Transport

delivering the cell's resources

Food and wastes are transported throughout the body by specific transport molecules found in the blood. Cells also need specific transport proteins to deliver molecules across their cell membranes. Atomic structures have revealed how these transport molecules recognize their cargoes and deliver them to the proper places.

Molecule of the Month Articles (23)

Aminopeptidase 1 and Autophagy

Anabolic Steroids

Aquaporin

CFTR and Cystic Fibrosis

	Aminopeptidase 1 and Autophagy Aminopeptidase 1 is delivered inside the cell using the machinery of autophagy
	Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids like testosterone are among the most common performance enhancing drugs
	Aquaporin Aquaporins create a channel for water molecules to cross through cell membranes
	CFTR and Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is currently treated using drugs that enhance the function of mutated CFTR
	Clathrin Three-armed clathrin triskelions are used to build molecular cages involved in transport
	Erythrocruorin Earthworms build a huge version of hemoglobin to carry oxygen
	Ferritin and Transferrin Ferritin and transferrin manage our essential stores of iron ions
	Fetal Hemoglobin Fetal hemoglobin allows a growing fetus to receive oxygen from their mother.
	Glucose Transporters Glucose transporters deliver glucose molecules one-by-one across cell membranes.
	Golgi Casein Kinase Casein and many other secreted proteins are phosphorylated by Golgi casein kinase
	Hemoglobin Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport
	Importins Importins deliver proteins into the nucleus through the nuclear pore complex
	Injectisome Salmonella bacteria inject a cocktail of effector proteins into cells to disable their defenses.
	Multidrug Resistance Transporters Many bacteria use multidrug resistance transporters to pump drugs and poisons out of the cell
	Nanodiscs and HDL Nanodiscs conveniently package a small piece of membrane for experimental studies.
	Nanowires Nanowires conduct electrons one at a time inside biological molecules.
	Neurotransmitter Transporters Neurotransmitters are transported out of nerve synapses to end a signal transmission
	Nuclear Pore Complex The nuclear pore complex is the gateway between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
	P-glycoprotein P-glycoprotein pumps toxic molecules out of our cells
	Proton-Gated Urea Channel A channel that passes urea allows ulcer-producing bacteria to live in the stomach
	S-Nitrosylated Hemoglobin Nitric oxide is attached to a conserved cysteine in hemoglobin and then released to control the flow of blood.
	Serum Albumin Serum albumin delivers fatty acid molecules through the bloodstream
	Sodium-Potassium Pump Cells continually pump sodium ions out and potassium ions in, powered by ATP

Learning Resources (8)

2025 Calendar: The Structural Biology of Nutrition

(Calendar)

Award-winning Clathrin Illustration

(Poster)

Oxygen Binding in Hemoglobin

(GIF)

3D Print: Serum Albumin

(Other Resource)

Anthrax Stealth Siderophores

Aquaglyceroporin

Bacterial Hemophores

Bacterial Leucine Transporter, LeuT

Deoxyhemoglobin

DPG-Hemoglobin Complex

Hemoglobin (1000)

Oxyhemoglobin

	Deoxyhemoglobin Geis illustrates deoxyhemoglobin in blue, a color associated with the absence of the oxygen molecule. Hemoglobin undergoes a conformational change in the absence of oxygen to produce this conformer. In the center is a red area showing the footprint of the space between the beta chains in the oxygenated state. The beta chains move apart in the deoxygenated state.
	DPG-Hemoglobin Complex Geis illustrates the complex of DPG (2,3-diphosphoglycerate) with hemoglobin as a co-crystal. The charged amino acid residues stabilizing the complex with DPG are drawn in blue.
	Hemoglobin (1000) Geis uses four colors to depict the hemoglobin tetramer structure. The heme groups are shown as white rectangular prisms. A red sphere is in the middle of each of these, representing an iron ion that allows capture of oxygen molecules. Hemoglobin is essential in transporting oxygen in vertebrates.
	Oxyhemoglobin Geis illustrates the hemoglobin molecule in its oxygenated state.
	Hemoglobin Geis illustrates the hemoglobin molecule as four symmetrically arranged myoglobins. Since it is responsible to the transport of oxygen, it can change from an oxygen-binding configuration to an oxygen-releasing configuration in response to the demand for oxygen.
	Cytochrome c (unbound) This illustration depicts the protein, Cytochrome c. The red structures represent the hydrophobic amino acids. The green structures represent the positively charged amino acids. The blue structures represent various types of amino acids. In the center of the picture is a luminous yellow sphere which represents the heme group. The heme group is depicted as such because it plays a crucial role in the function of the molecule.

Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (7)

Casein Micelle and Fat Globule in Milk

Myoglobin in a Whale Muscle Cell

Escherichia coli Bacterium

Red Blood Cell Cytoskeleton

	2025 Calendar: The Structural Biology of Nutrition Calendar The food that we eat contains four major classes of molecules–proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates–as well as many micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Our bodies contain thousands of different proteins that interact with and utilize these nutrients to build up our bodies and provide the energy we need to live.
	Award-winning Clathrin Illustration Poster Maria Voigt's illustration of Clathrin, created for the Art of Science traveling art exhibit, was recognized by the 2016 Wellcome Trust Image Awards.
	Oxygen Binding in Hemoglobin GIF Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport.
	3D Print: Serum Albumin Other Resource Serum albumin model for 3D printing
	3D Print: Ferritin Other Resource Download curated file of ferritin structure for 3D printing.
	3D Print: Hemoglobin Other Resource Download curated file of hemoglobin structure for 3D printing.
	Lesson Plans Other Resource
	Hemoglobin Bean Bag Toss Other Resource

	Anthrax Stealth Siderophores
	Aquaglyceroporin
	Bacterial Hemophores
	Bacterial Leucine Transporter, LeuT
	Bacterial Phosphotransferase System
	G Proteins and Cancer
	Piecing Together the Nuclear Pore Complex
	Pilus Assembly Protein TadZ
	Revealing the Nuclear Pore Complex
	Ribofuranosyl Binding Protein
	Ryanodine Receptor
	Serum Albumins and Allergies
	Solute Channels
	TrkH Potassium Ion Transporter
	Viroporins
	Zinc Transporter ZntB

	Casein Micelle and Fat Globule in Milk Illustration of a casein micelle and fat globule from milk
	Myoglobin in a Whale Muscle Cell Cross section through a whale muscle shows the dense packing of myoglobin
	Escherichia coli Bacterium A cross-section through an Escherichia coli cell reveals the crowded nature of the cell and diverse molecular processes.
	Red Blood Cell Cytoskeleton Cross section through a red blood cell membrane shows the distinctive cytoskeleton
	Autophagy Autophagy (2011) by David S. Goodsell and Daniel Klionsky.
	Biosites: Red Blood Cell Biosites: Red Blood Cell (2005) by David S. Goodsell
	Blood Blood (2000) by David S. Goodsell.

Transport

Molecule of the Month Articles (23)

Learning Resources (8)

Structural Biology Highlights (16)

Geis Digital Archive (6)

Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (7)