Question

Process involving movement of substances against the concentration gradient using ATP?

Answer 1

Transportation is a physiological process that occurs in all the higher organisms. This process is important to sustain life as this process is involved constantly in transporting different essential materials to and from all parts of the body including cells, tissues, and organs.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we must know about the types of transport.
There are four main types of transport which are;
i) Diffusion
ii) Facilitated diffusion
iii) Active transport
iv) Passive transport.

Active Transport is defined as the process involving the movement of substances against the concentration gradient using ATP. During the process of active transport, a protein pump makes use of stored energy in the form of ATP, to move molecules.

Types of Active transport: They are of two types namely;
- Primary active transport
- Secondary active transport

Primary active transport: In this process, the energy is utilized by the breakdown of Adenosine triphosphate to transport molecules across the membrane against a concentration gradient. So, in conclusion, the primary active transport uses external chemical energy such as ATP. The Sodium-potassium pump is one of the most important pumps in the animal cell is an example of primary active transport.

Secondary active transport: Secondary active transport is a type of active transport that uses electrochemical energy for the transportation of substances across a biological membrane. Here a transporter protein couples the movement of an electrochemical ion down its electrochemical gradient to the upward movement of another molecule or an ion against a concentration or electrochemical gradient.

Thus the process involving movement of substances against the concentration gradient using ATP is Active transport.

Note: Some of the best examples of active transport include:
- Phagocytosis of bacteria by Macrophages.
- Movement of $Ca^{2+}$ ions out of cardiac muscle cells.
- Transportation of amino acids across the intestinal lining in the human gut.
- Secretion of proteins like enzymes, peptide hormones, and antibodies from different cells.
- Functioning of the White Blood Cells by protecting our body by attacking diseases causing microbes and other foreign invaders.