Answer to Question #287409 in Biochemistry for shanu

Question

The sodium/calcium exchanger (NCX) transports sodium into and calcium out of

cardiac muscle cells. Describe why this transporter is classified as secondary active

transport.

Answer 1

Secondary active transport brings sodium ions, and possibly other compounds, into the cell. As sodium ion concentrations build outside of the plasma membrane because of the primary active transport process, this creates an electrochemical gradient.