The sodium/potassium pump (enzyme commission number 7.2.2.13) is a transmembrane enzyme comprised of two to three subunits, found in all animal cells. It is an active transporter (hydrolysing ATP) and exchanges three intracellular sodium ions for two extracellular potassium ions; it is the primary sodium efflux pump of the cell and maintains the cellular resting membrane potential as well as the sodium gradient required for many other cell processes.
Further reading
- Clausen MV, Hilbers F, Poulsen H. The Structure and Function of the Na,K-ATPase Isoforms in Health and Disease. Front Physiol. 2017 Jun 6;8:371.