Multiple Choice
Which of the following defines the type of transport by the sodium-potassium ATPase?
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11. Biological Membranes and Transport
Sodium-Potassium Ion Pump
Multiple Choice
Does the sodium-potassium ion pump (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase) require ATP to transport ions across the plasma membrane?
A
No; it is powered only by the Na⁺ gradient (secondary active transport) and does not use ATP directly.
B
Yes; but ATP is required only to open the pump and does not provide energy for ion movement.
C
No; it is a passive channel that allows Na⁺ and K⁺ to diffuse down their gradients.
D
Yes; it directly hydrolyzes ATP to drive active transport of ions.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the function of the sodium-potassium pump (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase): it actively transports Na⁺ ions out of the cell and K⁺ ions into the cell against their concentration gradients.
Recognize that moving ions against their concentration gradients requires energy input, which is typically provided by ATP hydrolysis in primary active transport.
Recall that the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase enzyme hydrolyzes ATP directly to provide the energy needed for conformational changes that move ions across the membrane.
Distinguish this from secondary active transport, where the energy comes indirectly from ion gradients rather than direct ATP hydrolysis.
Conclude that the sodium-potassium pump requires ATP directly to function, making it a primary active transporter rather than a passive channel or a secondary active transporter.
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