Sodium/Proton exchangers

The SLC9 gene family encode proteins (sodium/proton exchangers, NHE or NHX) which exchange sodium (influx) for protons (efflux) electroneutrally. This mechanism is important because many metabolic processes generate acids which need to be removed to maintain pH. This is the major proton extruding system in cells, driven by the inward sodium ion chemical gradient. To date, there are eleven NHE genes, NHE1-11. NHE1-5 exchange cations at the cell membrane. NHE6-9 exchange cations at endosomal membranes or the trans-golgi network membranes.

SLC9基因家族编码的蛋白质（钠/质子交换蛋白，NHE或NHX）在电中性条件下将钠（内流）与质子（外流）进行交换。此机制至关重要，因为许多代谢过程会产生酸性物质，这些酸性物质需要被移除以维持pH值的稳定。这是细胞中主要的质子排出系统，其动力来源于内向钠离子的化学梯度。迄今为止，共有十一种NHE基因，分别为NHE1至NHE11。NHE1至NHE5在细胞膜上交换阳离子，而NHE6至NHE9则在内质网膜或转高尔基网络膜上交换阳离子。