Triose phosphate translocator
Encyclopedia
The triose phosphate translocator is an integral membrane protein found in the outer membrane of chloroplasts. It exports triose phosphate (Dihydroxyacetone phosphate) in exchange for inorganic phosphate and is therefore classified as an antiporter
. This protein is responsible for exporting all the carbohydrate
produced in photosynthesis
by plants and therefore most of the carbon in food that one eats has been transported by the triose phosphate translocator.
Antiporter
An antiporter is an 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.In secondary active transport, one species of solute moves along its electrochemical...
. This protein is responsible for exporting all the carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
produced in photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
by plants and therefore most of the carbon in food that one eats has been transported by the triose phosphate translocator.