SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP Meaning and
Definition
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The sodium-potassium pump is an essential cellular mechanism responsible for maintaining the electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane. It utilizes energy in the form of ATP to actively transport sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell against their concentration gradients.
This pump is an integral membrane protein known as a transmembrane ATPase, found in all animal cells. It consists of multiple subunits that span the cell membrane. The main components are three sodium-binding sites located inside the cell and two potassium-binding sites located outside the cell.
To perform its function, the sodium-potassium pump first binds three sodium ions inside the cell. This stimulates the phosphorylation of the pump by transferring a phosphate group from ATP to the protein, causing a conformational change. This change allows the sodium ions to be transported across the cell membrane and released outside the cell. Simultaneously, two potassium ions outside the cell bind to the pump, promoting the dephosphorylation of the protein and returning it to its original conformation. The potassium ions are then transported into the cell, and the cycle repeats.
By maintaining a low intracellular sodium concentration and high intracellular potassium concentration, the sodium-potassium pump helps establish and preserve the resting membrane potential, which is crucial for proper nerve and muscle cell function. Additionally, it plays a vital role in a range of physiological processes, including signal transmission, nutrient absorption, and osmoregulation.
Common Misspellings for SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP
- aodium potassium pump
- zodium potassium pump
- xodium potassium pump
- dodium potassium pump
- eodium potassium pump
- wodium potassium pump
- sidium potassium pump
- skdium potassium pump
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- spdium potassium pump
- s0dium potassium pump
- s9dium potassium pump
- sosium potassium pump
- soxium potassium pump
- socium potassium pump
- sofium potassium pump
- sorium potassium pump
- soeium potassium pump
- soduum potassium pump
- sodjum potassium pump
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