Question

What would be the expected result if a competitive, nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP were applied to the cytoplasmic side of a plasma membrane that contained a large concentration of the Na /K⁺ pump?a. The cell would accumulate Na+, but there would be no effect on K⁺.
b. The cell interior would experience higher than normal Na⁺ concentrations and lower than normal K⁺ concentrations.
c. The cell would accumulate K⁺, but there would be no effect on Na⁺.
d. Both Na⁺ and K⁺ would accumulate outside of the cell.

Answer 1

The cell interior would experience higher than normal Na⁺ concentrations and lower than normal K⁺ concentrations.

Explanation:

The membranes that contain high concentration of sodium potassium ATPase pumps are generally the excitable membranes. These are found in muscles and in neurons.

In normal scenario, the de polarised membrane has higher potassium concentration inside and higher sodium concentration outside it. Now as an impulse comes, the sodium channels open which creates sodium influx and then potassium channels open which let's potassium efflux. Then after the conduction of impulse is over, the membrane regains its de polarised state by the sodium potassium ATPase pumps which transfers three potassium outside the cell and two potassium inside the cell in exchange of an ATP.

Now if the ATP is non hydrolyzable, then the pump won't occur. This will lead to greater sodium inside the cell and greater potassium outside the cell but the change difference will be nil on both sides.