Final answer:
Active transport proteins can maintain a high concentration gradient across a permeable membrane by using energy to transport particles against their concentration gradient. Passive diffusion channels and facilitated diffusion proteins allow movement down the concentration gradient and do not use energy, while intracellular receptors are involved in cellular signaling and do not maintain concentration gradients directly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that can maintain a particle at a high concentration gradient across a permeable membrane are primarily related to the transport mechanisms involved. Among the options provided, A) Active transport proteins are responsible for moving particles against their concentration gradient, from areas of lower concentration to areas of higher concentration, thereby maintaining a high concentration gradient. They do this by consuming energy, typically in the form of ATP. Option B) Passive diffusion channels allow particles to move across the membrane without the input of cellular energy, and thus cannot maintain a concentration gradient against the natural diffusion tendency. Option C) Facilitated diffusion proteins also allow particles to move down their concentration gradient and does not require energy, therefore can't maintain a high concentration gradient against the diffusion direction. Finally, D) Intracellular receptors are typically involved in signaling pathways once the particle is inside the cell and do not have a direct role in maintaining concentration gradients across membranes.