Question

What is the meaning of carrier proteins and pumps becoming saturated?

A) These transporters have reached the point where only an increase in the transported molecule
will change the net flux.
B) They have a hydrogen molecule at every possible carbon bond and are, therefore, a solid at
room temperature.
C) These transporters have become entirely depleted and can no longer transport without
further ATP production.
D) Saturation kinetics (demonstrated graphically as a line curving upward as a function of
concentration) indicates that transport will increase as concentrations increase.
E) These transporters have reached a maximal net flux, beyond which further increases in
concentration no longer affect their rate.

Answer 1

Carrier protein saturation occurs when all proteins are bound to their ligands, operating at maximum capacity, and further increases in substrate concentration would not increase the rate of transport.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term saturation in the context of carrier proteins and pumps refers to the condition when these transporters are operating at their full capacity. Carrier proteins are specific types of proteins embedded within the cell membrane that help in transporting substances across it. They operate under the principles of facilitated diffusion or active transport. Saturation occurs when the carrier proteins have a ligand bound to each of them, and they cannot transport substances across the membrane any faster, even if the concentration of the substance to be transported increases. This is because the number of carrier proteins in the membrane is finite, setting a limit to the rate of transport that can be achieved.