Question

If a given channel in a nerve membrane shows a preference for transporting larger solutes, which of the following would increase the likelihood of a given particle being transported by the channel?

A. Removing an electron from a K atom to create a K+ ion
B. Subjecting a dipeptide to proteolysis
C. Adding an electron to a Cl atom to create a Cl- ion
D. Removing two electrons from a Ca atom to create a Ca2+ ion

Answer 1

If a given channel in a nerve membrane shows a preference for transporting larger solutes, the particle with a larger size would increase the likelihood of it being transported. Removing two electrons from a Ca atom to create a Ca2+ ion would increase the likelihood of the given particle being transported by the channel.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ion channels are protein channels in the nerve membrane that allow the passage of specific charged particles, such as ions, across the membrane in response to a concentration gradient. If a given channel shows a preference for transporting larger solutes, then the presence of a particle with a larger size would increase the likelihood of it being transported by the channel. The options given in the question are:

Among these options, option D, removing two electrons from a Ca atom to create a Ca2+ ion, would increase the likelihood of the given particle being transported by the channel. This is because Ca2+ ion has a larger size compared to other ions like K+ and Cl- ions, making it more likely to be transported by a channel that shows a preference for larger solutes.