Question

Proton pumps embedded in the cell membrane use ATP to move hydrogen ions across the membrane. Which of the following best describes a function of the proton pump? A. It decreases the pH inside the cell to prevent toxicity. B. It generates a voltage across the membrane as a way to store energy. C. It helps maintain homeostasis by absorbing electrical charges. D. It increases the fluidity of the cell membrane as energy is used.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Although protons resemble other positive ions such as Na+ and K+ in their movement across membranes, in some respects they are unique. Hydrogen atoms are by far the most abundant type of atom in living organisms; they are plentiful not only in all carbon-containing biological molecules, but also in the water molecules that surround them. The protons in water are highly mobile, flickering through the hydrogen-bonded network of water molecules by rapidly dissociating from one water molecule to associate with its neighbor, Protons are thought to move across a protein pump embedded in a lipid bilayer in a similar way: they transfer from one amino acid side chain to another, following a special channel through the protein.

Answer 2

Answer for anyone who may still need it: B. It generates a voltage across the membrane as a way to store energy.