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Multiple Choice
Which membrane protein maintains the concentration gradients of ions across a neuronal membrane?
A
Ligand-gated ion channel
B
Sodium-potassium pump
C
Voltage-gated sodium channel
D
Calcium pump
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of membrane proteins in maintaining ion concentration gradients across neuronal membranes.
Identify the function of the sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions across the cell membrane.
Recognize that the sodium-potassium pump uses ATP to move 3 Na+ ions out of the cell and 2 K+ ions into the cell, against their concentration gradients.
Compare this function with other membrane proteins like ligand-gated ion channels and voltage-gated sodium channels, which do not actively maintain ion gradients but rather facilitate ion flow in response to specific signals.
Conclude that the sodium-potassium pump is the membrane protein responsible for maintaining the concentration gradients of ions across a neuronal membrane.