Thread: LiCl and membrane transport

Hi, I've read a bunch of papers on transmembrane transporters (citrate, lactate, etc) and many papers use a LiCl stop buffer to "stop" transport but do not say why LiCl stops transfer. What is the mechanism of action? Thanks.

Most likely LiCl binds in a semi-permanent manner to the transport proteins, effectively clogging them up and not allowing other molecules to pass through. That's just my guess, though.