In a previous posting, sam at gulf.net wrote (in part):
> Why does neurotransmission take energy?
It is true that the ions involved in the generation of an action potential flow
down their concentration gradients in turn. However, the two major ion gradien
ts (sodium and potassium) are established through an energy-dependent (ATP-cons
uming) process--the action of the sodium-potassium transporter, also known as N
a/K-dependent ATPase (I think). The best discussion of this protein that I have
seen is in a book called Basic Neurochemistry, by Siegel, Agranoff and two oth
ers whose names escape me. It's now in a new edition, but I think the basics of
the protein (e.g., structure, subunit stoichiometry, etc) were worked out some
time ago, so any edition since about 1985 should answer your questions.
