Question

About the K+ channels, which statement is WRONG?

A. K+ passes through the channel without hydrated water shells.
B. Na+ cannot pass through K+ channel because it could not interact efficiently with the interior selective groups lining the channel.
C. K+ moves against its gradient.

Answer 1

The statement claiming that K+ moves against its gradient is wrong; K+ moves against its gradient.

So, the correct answer is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

About the K+ channels, option C stating that K+ moves against its gradient is incorrect. This statement is wrong because ions through ion channels, such as K+, generally move down their electrochemical gradients, which is a passive process that does not require energy.

Instead, facilitated diffusion is the mechanism that allows ions to move across the membrane through ion channels. By contrast, the Na+/K+ transporter does move ions against their gradients, but it requires ATP as it is an active transport mechanism.

K+ channels are highly selective, and they are designed so that Na+ ions cannot pass through them because they do not interact efficiently with the specific amino acid groups lining the channel due to the difference in ion size and hydration shells.

So, the correct answer is C.