Which of the following is most likely to cause the opening of a voltage-gated channel in a cell membrane? A) Light causing a response in a photoreceptor B) A taste molecule binding to a taste receptor C) Mechanical pressure exerting a pull on a membrane D) Bathing a neuron in fluid with a high concentration of Na⁺ ions E) A rise in the membrane potential of a nerve cell

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Voltage-gated channels open in response to changes in the membrane potential of a cell, so a rise in the membrane potential of a nerve cell is most likely to cause the opening of a voltage-gated channel. The other options may cause other types of channels to open, such as ligand-gated channels (B) or mechanically-gated channels (C), but not voltage-gated channels. Bathing a neuron in fluid with a high concentration of Na+ ions could lead to depolarization of the cell membrane and trigger the opening of voltage-gated channels, but this is not the most likely scenario among the choices given.

Which of the Following Is Most Likely to Cause the Opening