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What is the carrier that specifically cotransports (symport) sodium and glucose in intestinal epithelial cells?

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Final answer:

The Sodium-Glucose Transporter (SGLT) is the carrier protein that symports sodium and glucose in intestinal epithelial cells, utilizing secondary active transport.

Step-by-step explanation:

The carrier that specifically cotransports sodium and glucose in intestinal epithelial cells is the Sodium-Glucose Transporter (SGLT). This symporter utilizes the energy from the influx of sodium ions, which are actively pumped out of the cell by the sodium-potassium pump, to transport glucose into the cell against its concentration gradient. This process is a form of secondary active transport, where the inward movement of sodium ions down their electrochemical gradient is coupled with the uphill transport of glucose molecules into the cell.

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