Asked by
Joshua Ingber
on Dec 17, 2024Verified
Although glucose molecules constantly diffuse into a red blood cell along their concentration gradient, equilibrium is never reached and a steep concentration gradient is continually maintained. What causes this?
A) The active transport of glucose
B) The very fast turnover rate of glucose metabolism
C) The ability of the cell to engulf glucose by pinocytosis
D) The continuous excretion of glucose from other parts of the cell
E) The rapid addition of a phosphate to the glucose molecules
Phosphate
A chemical compound containing the phosphate ion, PO4^3-, crucial for energy transfer in biological systems and a key component of nucleic acids and cellular membranes.
Glucose Metabolism
Biochemical processes responsible for the generation of energy and metabolic precursors from glucose.
Active Transport
Transport of a substance across a membrane that does not rely on the potential energy of a concentration gradient for the substance being transported and therefore requires an additional energy source (often ATP); includes carrier-mediated active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis. Compare with diffusion and facilitated diffusion.
- Explain the functional roles of membrane proteins in transport, cell recognition, and signaling.
- Explain the methods through which cells preserve concentration gradients and the importance of these gradients.
Verified Answer
JG
Learning Objectives
- Explain the functional roles of membrane proteins in transport, cell recognition, and signaling.
- Explain the methods through which cells preserve concentration gradients and the importance of these gradients.