What is the purpose of transporting N+ and K+ at the cell enzyme sodium potassium pump? I am a student.?

Question

Like all body functions at the cellular level, I find this action interesting.

Answer 1

The purpose of the Na-K ATPase pump is to maintain the concentration gradient of these two ions in their respective environments. Na+ concentration is naturally higher in the extracellular fluid, whereas the K+ concentration is higher within the cell. To generate an action potential for cell to cell communication one needs an initial influx of sodium and a outflux of potassium to stop it. However, if this kept up forever, all of the K+ would end up outside the cell and all of the Na+ would end up inside. This is why we have the Na-K ATPase pump - which is a energy requiring pump that actively transports these two ions in the reverse direction - UP their concentration gradients.

Answer 2

The purpose is to cause a chemical reaction which in turn will cause the cell to perform a task. EXAMPLE: in cardiac muscle tissue, the movement between calcium and potassium in cardiac cells causes the chemical reaction necessary to make the heart contract and relax. When this occurs, the heart pumps blood throughout the body.

This is also why a patient who has had a heart attack will sometimes have absolutely no symptoms. The blood tests on the cardiac enzymes (sodium and potassium will sometimes be the only indicator that shows this has happened). Same is true for other muscle tissue as well.

Answer 3

The Na+/K+ ATPase enzyme is probably one of the most fundamental tools all cells possess to function at all.
I creates and elctrochemical gradient such that three Na+ ions are exported from a cell for every two K+ uptake.
Firstly, this alone generates a charge difference across the cell membrane (such that the intracellular environment is electrically negative relative to the extracellular environment).
Secondly, the creates concentration gradients such that Na+ is more concentrate outside the cell whilst K+ is more concentrate within the cell. This means there are diffusion gradients for these two ions, Na+ trying to diffuse into the cell and K+ trying to diffuse out.
Where ever you see electrical or chemical gradients like these, there is potential energy to be released. Energy that, harness by a cell, allows it to function. Energy that, when lost, leads to failure of cell function and subsequent necrosis.
The Na+/K+ pump is an ATPase as it splits the cell product ATP into ADP + Pi releasing the energy it requires in order to create the subsequent electrochemical gradient it creates.

Just few examples of the uses of this electorchemical gradient:
Nerve cells & muscle cells use this to conduct electrochemical impluses along their fibres (action potentials). In the case of nerves, this provides a means of codifying information. In the case of muscles, this stimulates contractile mechanisms when an action potential is fired.
Other cells, for example in the intestine and kidney, use these gradients to drive energy dependent process of absorption against potential osmotic gradients.
It also serves on a level to create intracellular homeostasis, without which the cell would be susceptible to environmental pressures it otherwise needs to avoid in order to survive. Also in the kidney it drives the ability to reasborb water from ultrafiltrate that, after processeing, eventualy forms urine. This same process is vital to overall acid-base balance of blood.

In fact this is so fundamental as to be implicated in pretty nearly all cellular processes in most living organisms know to us today.

Answer 4

properly, part of the clarification potassium is ample contained in the cellular is simply by Na-ok pump. Potassium is already extra targeted contained in the cellular, regardless of the indisputable fact that the ions ought to diffuse by potential of ion channels contained in the membrane to stability the most concentration interior and out of doorways of the cellular membrane. Likewise, the same ought to ensue with sodium contained in the alternative route. regardless of the indisputable fact that, the cellular might want to apply the Na-ok pump to maintain its concentrations and cellular skill, or cost. The resting skill is significant for action potentials of nerves and muscle tissues.

Answer 5

Sodium and potassium are the primary ions that are responsible for nerve conduction of nerve cells (outside the CNS). They interact ironically with Chlorine (chiefly found within the nerve cell) and cause a chemical electric charge, an imbalance, to exist and intermittently "fire" thus causing a nerve conducted "current" to travel the course of the nerve, cell to cell.

I checked Wikipedia to refresh myself on this, its among the basics of neurophysiology - check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltatory_conduction