What is the Mechanism of Action of the Sodium Potassium Pump?
The mechanism of action of the sodium potassium pump can be summarized in a series of steps: 1. Binding: Three sodium ions from the cytoplasm bind to the pump. 2. Phosphorylation: ATP binds to the pump and is hydrolyzed, leading to the phosphorylation of the pump and release of ADP. 3. Conformational Change: Phosphorylation induces a conformational change in the pump, exposing the sodium ions to the extracellular space, and they are released. 4. Binding of Potassium: Two potassium ions from the extracellular space bind to the pump. 5. Dephosphorylation: The pump is dephosphorylated, which triggers another conformational change, moving the potassium ions into the cytoplasm. 6. Reset: The pump returns to its original conformation, ready to start the cycle again.
