logo
Products
Technologies
Applications
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
What is the role of ATP in the sodium-potassium pump?
Posted September 15, 2023

Answer

The sodium-potassium pump carries out a form of active transport and pumps ions against their electrochemical gradients. ATP is the external energy source required for the process to occur. When ATP binds to the pump, ATP phosphorylates the pump and alters its shape, forming an opening towards the exterior of the cell. The enzyme sodium-potassium-ATPase splits ATP into ADP and phosphate. The energy released from phosphorylation fuels the transport mechanism of the pump.