In the sodium-potassium pump, sodium ion release causes the carrier protein to return to its original shape and releases two K⁺ ions into the cell.
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Sodium-Potassium Pump

A vital cell membrane protein that transports sodium ions out of and potassium ions into cells, maintaining cellular electrochemical gradients.

Carrier Protein

A type of membrane protein involved in facilitated diffusion, helping to transport substances across a cell membrane without expenditure of energy.

Sodium Ion

An atom of sodium that has lost one electron to form a positively charged ion (Na+), crucial for nerve transmission and fluid balance in the body.