What Happens When the K-ATPase Pump is Dysfunctional?
Dysfunction of the K-ATPase pump can lead to severe physiological consequences. Hypokalemia (low potassium levels) and hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) can result from improper pump function, leading to muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and even paralysis. Genetic mutations in the pump's subunits can lead to disorders such as familial hemiplegic migraine and thyrotoxic periodic paralysis.
