Na+-K+ channel pumps

The Na⁺/K⁺ pumps are found in the neuronal plasma membrane and are a type of primary active transporter. The role of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump is to maintain the electrochemical gradient of Na⁺ and K^+. The Na⁺/K⁺ pumps are a type of ATPase they use the energy produced from the spliting of the ATP via hydrolysis to actively transport Na⁺ out of the axon and pump K+ into the axon. The Na⁺/K⁺ pump is a carrier protein, thus requires a change in conformation in order to move the ions across the membrane, for every 3 Na⁺ pumped out there are 2 K⁺ that have been pumped in.