sodium-potassium pump

What is the sodium-potassium pump?

An enzyme found in the cell membrane of animal cells that uses active transport to move Potassium ions in to the cell and Sodium out of the cell transports sodium and potassium in a 3:2 ratio The sodium-potassium pump is part of a repeating cycle of conformational changes.

Explain how this pump works step by step

Sodium inside the cell fits into the enzyme i.e substrate then once atp energy is formed from ADP then the ATP attaches to the sodium potassium pump creating enough energy for the pump to push the sodium out of the cell, once this happens potassium substrate moves into the enzyme from outside the cell and the atp detached from the pump allowing for the pump to push the potassium into the cell, these ions move against their concentration gradient as they are removing from a low concentration gradient to a high concentration gradient

what is the goal of the sodium-potassium pump?

The goal of the sodium-potassium pump is to maintain osmotic pressure and membrane potential in the cell. It does this by moving sodium ions out of the cell and bringing Potassium ions into the cell, but also by allowing potassium to leave the cell through other protein channels.