Types of Compounds. Ionic compounds are compounds composed of ions, charged particles that form when an atom (or group of atoms, in the case of polyatomic ions) gains or loses electrons. 1  A cation is a positively charged ion. 2  An anion is a negatively charged ion.
Porins are members of an extended family of transmembrane proteins found in the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria such as E. coli, or in the outer membranes of mitochondria in eukaryotes. The general porins provide a simple diffusion pathway across the membrane for molecules less than 1 kDa with little substrate selectivity.
Aquaporins are a class of integral membrane proteins or more commonly referred to as a class of major intrinsic proteins (MIP) that form pores in the membrane of biological cells. Genetic defects involving aquaporin genes have been associated with several human diseases.