Antiporters are transport proteins that simultaneously transport two substances across the membrane in opposite directions; one against the concentration gradient and one with the concentration gradient. Energy for transport of the substance moving against it's concentration gradient is provided by the potential energy stored in the electrochemical gradient of sodium ions (Na⁺) or protons (H⁺). The sodium-proton antiporter is an example of an antiporter found in bacteria.

Flash Animation of Transport of Substances Across a Membrane by Antiporters by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology, The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/index.html.

Last updated: Feb., 2018
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr. Gary Kaiser