Understanding Sodium Chloride Co Transporters

thrillhouse86

Hey All,

In my cellular & tissue biology class our lecturer was talking about neurons. Basically he was explaining that the concentrations are as follows:
Pottasium: higher inside the cell then outside.
Sodium: higher outside the cell then inside.
Chloride: higher outside the cell then inside.

Naturally there is a drive for potassium to be pumped out and for sodium & chloride to be pumped in.

He was then explaining that there are ion pumps which move against the concentration gradient. the first is Na-K ATPase - which I have a reasonable understanding of: it requires a free phosphate ion from ATP, and pumps potassium into the cell and sodium out in a ratio of 3:2.

The second was the cotransporter which he glossed over. I know that this cotransporter takes chloride out and puts potassium in. But can someone explain to me how this cotransporter works, and whether sodium is involved ?

Thanks,
Thrillhouse