Final answer:
The energy for active transport comes from a cell's energy currency called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used by protein pumps to move substances against their concentration gradients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy for active transport comes from a cell's energy currency known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Active transport is a process that involves the movement of substances across the cell membrane against their concentration or electrochemical gradient.
This requires the use of energy because substances are being moved from an area of low concentration to one of high concentration, which is unlike passive transport mechanisms that transport substances along their concentration gradients without the use of energy.
Proteins that serve as pumps are often involved in active transport. These protein pumps use the energy derived from ATP to transport ions and other molecules across the cell membrane, maintaining the necessary concentration differences that are crucial for a variety of cellular functions.
Cells spend a significant portion of their metabolic energy, sometimes even up to 25% of the body's energy, on active transport processes to maintain the proper function and homeostasis.