Slight deviations from the normal concentration of ___________ ions can shut down metabolic pathways as well as alter the structure and function of other macromolecules.

Question

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Hydrogen ions play a crucial role in regulating the pH of a cell's environment, and slight deviations from the normal concentration can disrupt enzyme activity and alter the structure and function of other macromolecules. This is why maintaining pH homeostasis is essential for cellular function. Potassium, sodium, and phosphate ions also play important roles in cellular function, but deviations from their normal concentrations are less likely to cause significant disruptions in metabolic pathways or macromolecule function. Glucose is not an ion and therefore does not play a direct role in ion homeostasis or macromolecule structure/function.

Slight Deviations from the Normal Concentration of ___________ Ions Can