Sodium-calcium exchanger


The sodium-calcium exchanger (often denoted Na<sup>+</sup>/Ca<sup>2+</sup> exchanger, NCX, or exchange protein) is an antiporter ion pump membrane protein which removes calcium from cells. It uses the energy that is stored in the electrochemical gradient of sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) by allowing Na<sup>+</sup> to flow down its gradient across the plasma membrane in exchange for the countertransport of calcium ions (Ca<sup>2+</sup>). The NCX removes a single calcium ion in exchange for the import of three sodium ions.[1] using the Na<sup>+</sup>