A number of systems for pumping ions across membranes are powered by ATP. Such ATP-powered pumps are often called ATPases, although they do not often hydrolyze ATP unless they are simultaneously transporting ions. Because small increases in calcium ions in the cytosol can trigger a number of different intracellular reactions, cells keep the cytosolic calcium concentration quite low under normal conditions, using ATP-powered calcium pumps. For example, muscle cells transport calcium from the cytosol into the membranous system called the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). If a resting muscle cell's cytosol has a free calcium ion concentration of 10⁻⁷ while the concentration in the SR is 10⁻², then how is the ATPase acting?
A) ATPase activity must be powering an inflow of calcium from the outside of the cell into the SR.
B) ATPase activity must be transferring ᵢ to the SR to enable this to occur.
C) ATPase activity must be pumping calcium from the cytosol to the SR against the concentration gradient.
D) ATPase activity must be opening a channel for the calcium ions to diffuse back into the SR along the concentration gradient.

Question

A number of systems for pumping ions across membranes are powered by ATP. Such ATP-powered pumps are often called ATPases, although they do not often hydrolyze ATP unless they are simultaneously transporting ions. Because small increases in calcium ions in the cytosol can trigger a number of different intracellular reactions, cells keep the cytosolic calcium concentration quite low under normal conditions, using ATP-powered calcium pumps. For example, muscle cells transport calcium from the cytosol into the membranous system called the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). If a resting muscle cell's cytosol has a free calcium ion concentration of 10⁻⁷ while the concentration in the SR is 10⁻², then how is the ATPase acting?
A) ATPase activity must be powering an inflow of calcium from the outside of the cell into the SR. 
B) ATPase activity must be transferring ᵢ to the SR to enable this to occur. 
C) ATPase activity must be pumping calcium from the cytosol to the SR against the concentration gradient. 
D) ATPase activity must be opening a channel for the calcium ions to diffuse back into the SR along the concentration gradient.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ATP-powered calcium pumps are responsible for maintaining a low cytosolic calcium concentration in cells. In this scenario, the ATPase is pumping calcium from the cytosol to the SR against the concentration gradient, which is represented by the higher concentration of calcium ions in the SR compared to the cytosol. This process requires the hydrolysis of ATP by the ATPase to provide the energy needed to pump the calcium ions against the concentration gradient.

A Number of Systems for Pumping Ions Across Membranes Are