The larval lepidopteran midgut contains a mechanism for the active transport of potassium ions from blood to lumen (Harvey and Nedergaard, 1964). This insect K+ pump has been localized to the apical membrane of the midgut goblet cells (Dow et al. 1984). Recently it has been shown to consist of a proton-motive ATPase of the vacuolar class (V-ATPase) functioning in conjunction with a K+/ nH+ antiporter (Wieczorek et al. 1991).

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