Question

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a common but poisonous ornamental shrub. All parts of the plant contain chemicals that inhibit the Na+/K+ pump. How would this affect sodium-glucose symporters (secondary active transport) of a given cell?

Answer 1

Answer:

Glucose levels within the cell would decrease

Explanation:

Sodium glucose simulators are proteins that participate in secondary active transport within epithelial cells. This type of protein can be located in the cell membrane and has the function of transporting glucose and sodium into cells simultaneously. These proteins are directly dependent on Na+/K+ pumps, as they use the free energy released by them to efficiently transport sodium and glucose. For this reason, we can conclude that if a plant's chemicals inhibit the Na+/K+ pump, glucose and sodium concentrations will decrease because the proteins responsible for their transport into the cell will be weakened by a lack of energy.