Ion Channels: Structure and Function. Ion channels are membrane protein complexes and their function is to facilitate the diffusion of ions across biological membranes. Membranes, or phospholipid bilayers, build a hydrophobic, low dielectric barrier to hydrophilic and charged molecules. They are electrical insulators.
The inert gas xenon (chemical symbol Xe) has an atomic number of 54, and it has 54 protons in its nucleus. The number of neutrons varies, however.
Xenon Xe 133 Gas is reactor-produced as a by-product of Uranium U235 fission. Each vial contains the labeled amount of Xenon Xe 133 radioactivity at the time of calibration. The contents of the vial are in gaseous form, contain no preservatives, and are ready for use. Xenon Xe 133 is chemically and physiologically related to elemental Xenon, a non-radioactive monoatomic gas which is physiologically inert except for anesthetic properties at high doses.