AbstractThe present state in the chemistry of peptides and proteins capable of transporting ions across biological and model membranes have been reviewed. The mechanisms of action of peptide ionophores valinomycin and enniatin and also the channel‐forming peptide gramicidin‐A have been discussed on the basis of spatial structure and dynamic conformational properties of the compounds. Recent progress in the studies of bacteriorhodopsin, cholinergic receptor from postsynaptic membrane, and sodium channel from the excitable nerve membrane, the integral membrane proteins acting as proton or metal ion channel formers is also discussed.