PREFACE Movements of hormones and ions through intracellular membranes and through the plasma membrane to the cell exterior and movement of these substances from the bloodstream into other cells require the agency of molecular transporters. The functionality of these transporters is essential to the actions of hormones, such as insulin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, or to the actions of ions, such as sodium, calcium, phosphate, and iodide, or to the actions of other substances, such as cholesterol, vitamins, adenosine, endogenous cannabinoids (one is anandamide), and even water molecules. If a transporter is not functioning properly, a disease condition may follow. If there is an excess of a substance being transported and the availability of that substance needs to be reduced, a transporter can become a target for chemotherapy. Of the many steps in the mechanisms of all of these critical molecules or atoms, the transporters themselves become vital regulators. In this volume, the latest research is reviewed on these many topics. To open this area, the transporters involved in the formation and action of thyroid hormones are considered. The first topic is that of J.P. Nicola, N. Carrasco, and A.M. Masini-Repiso on “Dietary I Absorption: Expression and Regulation of the Na+/I Symporter in the Intestine.” “Apical Iodide Efflux in Thyroid” is reviewed by P. Fong. D. Braun and U. Schweitzer contribute “Thyroid Hormone Transport and Transporters.” A discussion of the movement of sodium ion and the comovement of other molecules, in some cases, occurs through the following reviews. M. Quick and L. Shi offer “The Sodium/Multivitamin Transporter: A Multipotent System with Therapeutic Implications.” “Regulation of αENaC Transcription” is authored by L. Chen, X. Zhang, and W. Zhang. M. Mamenko, O. Zaika, M. Boukelmoune, E. Madden, and O. Pochynyuk write on “Control of ENaC-Mediated Sodium Reabsorption in the Distal Nephron by Bradykinin.” This topic is concluded with “Inhibition of ENaC by Endothelin-1,” a report by A. Sorokin and A. Staruschenko. There are many other systems to be considered. Of these, Y. Aghazadeh, B.R. Zirkin, and V. Papadopoulos describe “Pharmacological Regulation of the Cholesterol Transport Machinery in Steroidogenic Cells of the Testis.” D.P. Begg has written on “Insulin Transport into the Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid.” “Regulation of Hormone-Sensitive Renal Phosphate Transport” is the focus of J. Gattineni and P.A. Friedman. M. Ikeda and xvii

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T. Matsuzaki review “Regulation of Aquaporins by Vasopressin in the Kidney.” D.A. Buckley and P.C. McHugh contribute “The Structure and Function of the Dopamine Transporter and Its Role in CNS Diseases.” M.S. Vatta, L.G. Bianciotti, M.J. Guil, and S.I. Hope are the authors of “Regulation of the Norepinephrine Transporter by Endothelins: A Potential Therapeutic Target.” K. Wongdee and N. Charoenphandhu cover “Vitamin D-Enhanced Duodenal Calcium Transport.” “Endocannabinoid Transport Revisited” is the subject of S. Nicolussi and J. Gertsch. The final contribution is that of A. dos Santos-Rodrigues, M.R. Pereira, R. Brito, N.A. de Oliveira, and R. Paes-de-Carvalho who describe “Adenosine Transporters and Receptors: Key Elements for Retinal Function and Neuroprotection.” As always, Helene Kabes of Elsevier (Oxford, UK) and Vignesh Tamilselvvan of Elsevier (Chennai, India) have expedited the final preparations for the publication of this volume. The cover illustration is taken from Fig. 1 of chapter entitled “Dietary I Absorption: Expression and Regulation of the Na+/I Symporter in the Intestine” by J.P. Nicola, N. Carrasco, and A.M. Masini-Repiso. GERALD LITWACK North Hollywood, California October 23, 2014