The sodium-calcium-exchanger (NCX) protein is an antiport protein that islocated in the membranes of cardiac muscle cells in humans as well as othercells. Antiport proteins transport two different solutes in oppositedirections. The sodium-calcium-exchanger protein functions by secondaryactive transport and requires the sodium-potassium pump in order tofunction. The sodium-potassium pump functions by primary activetransport and transports sodium ions from the intracellular fluid to theextracellular fluid.• Describe how the sodium-potassium pump provides energy for thefunction of the sodium-calcium-exchanger.Considering that the NCX protein is an antiport protein, describe theconcentration gradient of calcium on both sides of the cell membrane.Describe the direction that the calcium ions are transported.

The sodium-calcium exchanger is the dominant Ca2+ efflux mechanism in cardiac cells. The…

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Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)

11th Edition

ISBN:9780134580999

Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation

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The sodium-calcium-exchanger (NCX) protein is an antiport protein that is
located in the membranes of cardiac muscle cells in humans as well as other
cells. Antiport proteins transport two different solutes in opposite
directions. The sodium-calcium-exchanger protein functions by secondary
active transport and requires the sodium-potassium pump in order to
function. The sodium-potassium pump functions by primary active
transport and transports sodium ions from the intracellular fluid to the
extracellular fluid.
• Describe how the sodium-potassium pump provides energy for the
function of the sodium-calcium-exchanger.
Considering that the NCX protein is an antiport protein, describe the
concentration gradient of calcium on both sides of the cell membrane.
Describe the direction that the calcium ions are transported.

Expert Solution

Step 1

The sodium-calcium exchanger is the dominant Ca²⁺ efflux mechanism in cardiac cells. The sodium-calcium exchanger act as antiport and functions by secondary active transport. In secondary active transport, the uphill transport of one solute is coupled to the downhill transport of the another solute that was originally pumped by primary active transport.

In secondary active transport unlike primary active transport the molecule of interest( here calcium) is not directly coupled with ATP hydrolysis. In this case, the ATP hydrolysis is required for the transport of Na⁺ against it's concentration gradient and the downhill(passive) movement of this Na⁺ will be utilised to provide energy for the uphill (against gradient) transport of other solute(calcium).

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