Mechanism of Ionophore Action
This black circle depicts the circular valinomycin molecule. To see the structure of valinomycin in greater detail click on the animation. Note that K+ ions bind to valinomycin and are shuttled back and forth across the membrane. In the absence of a potassium specific ionophore like valinomycin, K+ only rarely crosses a lipid bilayer. In the presence of valinomycin, K+ is freely permeable.
