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The Seaweed Gatherers, Paul Gaugin
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Iodine Research

Resource Network of The Iodine Movement

The first step in thyroid hormone synthesis is the movement of iodide into the thyroid cells.  The
thyroid is able to concentrate iodide by a factor of 20- to 40-fold with respect to its concentration
in the blood.

It accomplishes this amazing feat by means of the Sodium (Na+) / Iodide (I-) symporter (NIS).  A
symporter (animation) is a special membrane protein involved in transporting iodide into the cell.

The NIS couples the inward "downhill" movement of sodium (Na+) to the inward "uphill" movement
of iodide (I-).  In other words, it facilitates the movement of iodide, together with sodium, from the
blood into the thyroid cells.

The NIS symporter is found not only in thyroid cells but also in non-thyroidal tissues which
concentrate iodine, including salivary glands, gastric mucosa, and lactating mammary glands.

Here is a simple description of the NIS complete with pictures.

In the past decade, NIS research at the molecular level has become an exciting new field in
thyroidology.

Carrasco's team has been responsible for much of the basic NIS research.