secondary active transport via Na+/K+/ATPase is used to absorb molecule X across
ID: 90322 • Letter: S
Question
secondary active transport via Na+/K+/ATPase is used to absorb molecule X across gut epithelial cells. A drug that inhibits uptake of this molecule acts by selectively inhibiting the gut Na+/K+/ATPase. However, when high dosage of the drug is taken, it leads to systemic inhibition of all Na+/K+/ATPasw in the body of the animal.
a)Discuss the implications this has on the metabolic rate of the animal.
b) would this animal be more tolerant to high environmental temperatures before a high dosage of the drug, or after?
Explanation / Answer
a) Na+/K+/ATPase is essential for the maintainance of normal resting membrane potential. If Na+/K+/ATPase is inhibited there is an accumulation of sodium ions within the cells and the concentration of potassium ions falls. This results in depolarization of the resting membrane potential. Na+/K+/ATPase pump is also electrogenic as it transports 3 sodium ions outside the cell and 2 potassium ions inside the cell. By pumping more positive changes out of the cell than into the cell, the pump creates a negative potential within the cell.
Therefore, the inhibition of Na+/K+/ATPase pump causes depolarization due to
b) Na+/K+/ATPase is inhibited in low temperatures. Therefore, the animal would be more tolerant to high environmental temperatures after a high dosage of the drug.
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