text: In plants, potassium plays a key role in maintaining plant health. High concentrations of potassium in plants play a key role in synthesis of essential proteins in plants as well as development of plant organelles like cell walls to prevent damage from viruses and insects. It also lowers the concentration of low molecular weight molecules like sugars and amino acids and increases the concentration of high weight molecular weight molecules like protein which also prevent the development and propagation of viruses. Potassium absorption has a positive correlation with aquaporins and the uptake of water in plant cells via cell membrane proteins. Because of this correlation, it has been noted that potassium also plays a key part in stomatal movement and regulation as high concentrations of potassium are moved into the plant stomata to keep them open and promote photosynthesis. In animals, potassium also plays a key part along with sodium in maintaining resting cell membrane potential and in cell-cell communication via repolarization of axon pathways after an action potential between neurons. Potassium may also play a key part in maintaining blood pressure in animals as shown in a study where increased severity of periodontal disease and hypertension were inversely correlated to urinary potassium excretion (a telltale sign of low potassium intake).