Bio 12 PLO B9 and B10: TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE

Ollek / Reves Chapter 4: pgs 68-77

VOCABULARY

-active transport: movement of certain molecules that are against concentration gradient from
lesser to greater concentrations.
- like cell pumping
- requires energy and carrier proteins in the cell membrane.
Example Na
+
and K
+
in cells (Na/K pump in nerve cells)

- aquaporins- special water channels- allow greater amounts of water to cross into the cell

-carbohydrates: may be attached to the outer surface of the cell membrane or a protein- called carbohydrate
chains.

-carrier protein: selectively interacts with a specific molecule/ion so it can cross the plasma membrane.


Bio 12 PLO B9 and B10: TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE
Ollek / Reves Chapter 4: pgs 68-77




-cell membrane- The cell membrane is a thin semi-permeable membrane, it surrounds the cytoplasm of a
cell. Its function is to protect the integrity (nutrient and water concentrations) of the interior of the cell by
allowing certain substances into the cell, while keeping other substances out. It also serves as a base of
attachment for the cytoskeleton in some organisms and the cell wall in others. The cell membrane also serves
to help support the cell and helps maintain its shape.

- Cell recognition protein- The major histocompatability complex glycoproteins are different for each
person. Non-recognition leads to attacks by white blood cells.

-channel protein- allows a particular molecule to pass through the plasma membrane freely.

-cholesterol- found in every cell of your body. It makes up nearly half of the cell membrane, where it helps
maintain the integrity of these membranes, and plays a role in facilitating cell signaling- meaning the ability
of your cells to communicate with each other so you function as a human, rather than a pile of cells. As
cholesterol is a small molecule, it is only about 20% of the cell membranes weight.

-concentration gradient- molecules tend to flow down the concentration gradient- meaning they go from an
area of high solute concentration to low solute concentration. Cells use this property to help with transport
across the cell membrane- diffusion. Movement against this concentration gradient is possible but it requires
energy.

-diffusion- particles moving from an area of greater concentration towards an area of lower concentration
until it is equally distributed (equilibrium is reached). See more in Q to C #3
Bio 12 PLO B9 and B10: TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE
Ollek / Reves Chapter 4: pgs 68-77


-endocytosis- endo means taking in. In cells it refers to the taking in of molecules and particles by forming
a vesicle. See more in Q to C #3.

- Enzymatic protein- catalyzes a specific reaction in the cell.
-exocytosis

-facilitated transport- no energy is required, although facilitated transport utilizes carrier proteins or
channels to move molecules towards the concentration gradient. (see more in Q to C #3.)

-fluid-mosaic model- The plasma membrane is described to be fluid because of its hydrophobic integral
parts (lipids and membrane proteins) that can move sideways (laterally) throughout the membrane. Means
the membrane is not solid, but more like a 'fluid'. The membrane is described as a mosaic because it is made
up of many different parts. The plasma membrane is composed of different kinds of macromolecules, such
as integral proteins, peripheral proteins, glycoproteins, phospholipids, glycolipids, and in some cases
cholesterol, lipoproteins. The plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer (interspersed with proteins). It form in this
manner because of the phospholipids: they can fold in on themselves creating a double layer (or bilayer)
when placed in a polar surrounding, like water. This structural feature of the membrane is essential to its
functions, such as cellular transport and cell recognition.

-glycolipid- Lipids with short carbohydrate chains attached. Act as cell markers and provide energy.

-glycoprotein- Proteins with covalently attached sugar units. Includes most secreted proteins and proteins
exposed at the outer surface of the plasma membrane. Basically, any type of protein that possesses a sugar
within the molecule.

-hydrophilic- water loving portion of a molecule, has a charge. In the phospholipid structure- the head
(polar head: choline and phosphate groups)

-hydrophobic- water hating, has no overall charge. In the phospholipid structure- the tails

-hypertonic- when the extracellular fluid has greater amounts of solutes than the cytoplasm, the extracellular
fluid is said to be hypertonic. Fluid will rush from the cell to the extracellular fluid.

-hypotonic- when the extracellular fluid has lesser amounts of solutes that the cytoplasm, the extracellular
fuid is said to be hypotonic. Water will rush from inside the cell to the extracellular space.

-isotonic- when the extracellular fluid and cytoplasm have the same concentration of solutes. No overall net
movement will occur, although molecules are still moving into and out of the cell- but at equal rates.

-osmosis- diffusion of water molecules across the cell membrane. Net movement of water molecules from
the area of greater concentration of water to an area of lesser concentration of water until it is evenly
distributed.


Bio 12 PLO B9 and B10: TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE
Ollek / Reves Chapter 4: pgs 68-77


-passive transport- transport of ions or molecules along a concentration gradient. This process does not
require chemical energy (in contrast to active transport). Substances moving across a biological membrane
may or may not need the assistance of a membrane protein. There are four major types of passive transport:
simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, filtration, osmosis.

-phagocytosis- The process of engulfing and ingesting particles by the cell to form a food vacuole. These
vacoules fuse with lysosomes where the engulfed material is eventually digested or degraded and either
released extracellularly (exocytosis), or released into the intracellular fluid to undergo further processing.

-phospholipid bilayer- The two layers of phospholipids arranged so their hydrophobic tails are facing
inwards, while their polar head groups are facing the outside surfaces. This allows for movement of charged
particles through the cell memebrane.

-pinocytosis- A process of taking in fluid together with its contents into the cell by forming narrow channels
through its membrane that pinch off into vesicles, and fuse with lysosomes that hydrolyze or break down
contents. Drinking/Sipping cells

-pressure gradient- movement of particles form high pressure to low pressure.

-protein- see Q to C #1 and definitions of the 5 types of cell proteins

- receptor protein- special shape allows for the binding of a specific molecule.

-selectively permeable- A feature and function of the plasma membrane that is essential to maintain
homeostasis by regulating the passage of some substances while preventing others from entering the cell.
Also see Q to C #2

-surface-area-to-volume ratio- See Q to C #5

-tonicity- the osmotic pressure of a solution, i.e., cells swell or shrink depending on the tonicity of the
environment. A property of a solution that depends on the osmotic force exerted across the membrane as
influenced by the different concentrations of solutes in and out of the cell.