What is the significance of potassium ions?

Potassium ions have various significant roles in the body. Potassium is the main cation found in cells, where more than 90% of the total body stores of potassium is contained. It is a type of electrolyte that assists nerves to function and muscles to contract. It also helps the heartbeat to beat properly and move nutrients into cells, as well as waste products out of cells. A diet high in potassium helps to negate the harmful effect that sodium has on blood pressure. Potassium also has an important role in maintaining resting membrane potential. The resting membrane potential is generated by the K+ leaks from inside of the cell to the outside via leak K+ channels. This generates a negative charge inside of the membrane versus the outside. At rest, the membrane is impermeable to Na+ as all of the Na+ channels are closed. Another significant function of potassium ions is that they play a role in the stabilization of RNA molecules through phosphate backbones or through arrangement of exocyclic groups on stacked nucleotides. Several K+ ions form part of the functional sites, stabilize tRNA ligands, or maintain rRNA-protein interactions.