Biomolecular machines: II. ATP-dependent ion pumps.

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Animated cartoon of the sodium pump:

  • The transport of 2K+ from left (extracellular) to right (intracellular) in exchange for 3Na+
  • is mediated by successive conformational transitions of the pump molecule
  • which is driven by phosphorylation of an aspartyl residue (red explosion)
  • followed by hydrolysis of the aspartylphosphate (blue explosion).

    The changing color and shape is meant to indicate the changing "conformational energy state" of the pump molecule relative to its substrates: red > orange > pink.

  • Animated cartoon of the sodium pump
  • This cartoon depicts only a monomeric alpha subunit. The structure of a minimal functional pump has not been rigorously determined. It is believed to be an oligomer of the alpha,beta-heterodimer.