The article "A charged existence: A century of transmembrane ion transport in plants" by Michael R. Blatt provides a comprehensive overview of the development and significance of ion transport research in plants over the past century. The author highlights how ion transport across plant membranes accounts for about 30% of the metabolic energy consumed by a plant cell and plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including mineral nutrition, cell expansion, development, auxin polarity, fertilization, plant pathogen defense, and senescence. The introduction of voltage clamp methods in the 1970s and 1980s revolutionized the field, allowing for the quantification of ion flux through individual transporters. Guard cells, particularly, have emerged as a premier model for studying ion transport and its regulation, contributing to advancements in stomatal physiology and long-distance signaling. The article discusses the historical context of membrane transport research, emphasizing the shift from traditional biochemical methods to molecular genetics and the importance of electrophysiology in understanding transport mechanisms. It details the challenges and advancements in measuring membrane voltage and current, including the use of voltage clamp and patch clamp techniques. The author also explores the role of H+ ATPases in maintaining membrane voltages and their coupling to other transport processes, such as K+ uptake. The article concludes by discussing the importance of understanding ion channel dynamics and the limitations of different experimental methods, particularly in intact plant tissues. Overall, the article underscores the fundamental importance of ion transport in plant biology and its implications for global environmental challenges.The article "A charged existence: A century of transmembrane ion transport in plants" by Michael R. Blatt provides a comprehensive overview of the development and significance of ion transport research in plants over the past century. The author highlights how ion transport across plant membranes accounts for about 30% of the metabolic energy consumed by a plant cell and plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including mineral nutrition, cell expansion, development, auxin polarity, fertilization, plant pathogen defense, and senescence. The introduction of voltage clamp methods in the 1970s and 1980s revolutionized the field, allowing for the quantification of ion flux through individual transporters. Guard cells, particularly, have emerged as a premier model for studying ion transport and its regulation, contributing to advancements in stomatal physiology and long-distance signaling. The article discusses the historical context of membrane transport research, emphasizing the shift from traditional biochemical methods to molecular genetics and the importance of electrophysiology in understanding transport mechanisms. It details the challenges and advancements in measuring membrane voltage and current, including the use of voltage clamp and patch clamp techniques. The author also explores the role of H+ ATPases in maintaining membrane voltages and their coupling to other transport processes, such as K+ uptake. The article concludes by discussing the importance of understanding ion channel dynamics and the limitations of different experimental methods, particularly in intact plant tissues. Overall, the article underscores the fundamental importance of ion transport in plant biology and its implications for global environmental challenges.