The celular process known as the sodium-potassium pump was discovered in the 1950s by
Jens Christian Skou, a Danish scientist. This process is a form of active transport that moves
three sodium ions to the outside of a cell for every two potassium ions that It moves into the
cell. Which of these best explains why energy is needed for active transport?
Mathematics · Mon Oct 10 2022
Answered on
When the sodium ions bind, they trigger the pump to hydrolyze (break down) ATP. One phosphate group from ATP is attached to the pump, which is then said to be phosphorylated. ADP is released as a by-product.
- it just involves the protein going back and forth between two forms: an inward-facing form with high affinity for sodium (and low affinity for potassium) and an outward-facing form with high affinity for potassium (and low affinity for sodium). The protein can be toggled back and forth between these forms by the addition or removal of a phosphate group, which is in turn controlled by the binding of the ions to be transported.
