Question

If a sodium potassium protein pump was flipped upside down in the plasma membrane, would it still be able to function? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The sodium potassium pump won't work if it flipped upside down because, Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase is a cotransporter couples phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the critical Asp residue to the simultanious movement of both Na⁺ K⁺ against their electrochemical gradients which produces -50 to -70 mV inside the cell. Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase is responsible for maintaining low Na⁺ and high K⁺ concentrations. When flipped upside down, phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the critical Asp residue doesn't occur. Without ATP Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase will not function.