Symporter vs. Antiporter

Symporternoun

(biochemistry) An integral membrane protein involved in the movement of different molecules or ions in the same direction across a phospholipid membrane.

Symporter

A symporter is an integral membrane protein that is involved in the transport of two different molecules across the cell membrane in the same direction. The symporter works in the plasma membrane and molecules are transported across the cell membrane at the same time, and is, therefore, a type of cotransporter.

Antiporternoun

(biochemistry) A cell protein that acts within an antiport to transport different molecules or ions across the membrane in opposite directions

Antiporter

An antiporter (also called exchanger or counter-transporter) is a cotransporter and integral membrane protein involved in secondary active transport of two or more different molecules or ions across a phospholipid membrane such as the plasma membrane in opposite directions, one into the cell and one out of the cell. Na+/H+ antiporters have been reviewed.In secondary active transport, one species of solute moves along its electrochemical gradient, allowing a different species to move against its own electrochemical gradient.