Question

The first step of the Na+/K+ pump's activity involves the binding of which of the following?

A. Sodium ions (Na+)
B. Potassium ions (K+)
C. ATP
D. Chloride ions (Cl-)

Answer 1

The initial action of the Na+/K+ pump involves the binding of three intracellular sodium ions (Na+).

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step of the Na+/K+ pump's activity involves the binding of sodium ions (Na+). In this initial phase, three sodium ions from the intracellular space bind to the pump. This binding primes the pump for the subsequent steps which involve ATP hydrolysis and phosphorylation of the pump, leading to a conformational change that eventually results in the sodium ions being moved out of the cell.