Chapter 3

State the substances required by and

substances eliminated from living cells
Explain the necessity for movement of
substances across the plasma membrane
Describe the structure of plasma membrane
and its permeability
2 types of metabolic activities or processes :
a.) Anabolism
b.) Catabolism
Anabolism : involves in building up complex
molecules from simple molecules necessary
for production of new enzymes, protein,
tissues (growth, maintenance and tissue repair)
Catabolism : involves in breaking down
complex molecules to simple ones (energy
production)
Substance Substance Substance Substance Function and necessity Function and necessity Function and necessity Function and necessity
Glucose Used in production of energy through
cellular respiration
Amino acids Used in production of proteins such as
enzymes and antibodies
Fats Used in production of energy and synthesis
of cellular structures
Vitamins and minerals Coenzymes which are required for cell
metabolism
Water Reaction medium for most of the
biochemical reactions
Oxygen One of the substrate for cellular respiration
Substance Substance Substance Substance Source Source Source Source Necessity of Necessity of Necessity of Necessity of
elimination elimination elimination elimination
Carbon dioxide Waste product of
respiration
Not needed by most
cells and must be
eliminated; otherwise
the cells would
accumulate these
substances and be
overfilled with them
Nitrogenous waste From the breakdown
of excess proteins
(urea, uric acid and
ammonia)
Oxygen Waste product of
photosynthesis
Used for respiration of
other organisms
Secretions e.g
extracellular enzymes,
hormones, and
neurotransmitters
Secreted by particular
cells
Must be able to get
out of the cell to carry
out their functions on
other cells
Made up of both lipids and proteins ; its
fundamental structure called phospholipid
bilayer
Phospholipid : consists of a phosphate group
forming the polar part of the molecule =
soluble in water
Lower part of phospholipid : consists of two
fatty acid chains which are insoluble in water
Phospholipid molecules arrange themselves
in a phospholipid bilayer structure whereby:
The hydrophilic region : Face the aqueous
environment of both extracellular and
intracellular
The hydrophobic region : face each other in
the middle of the membrane, away from the
environment.
Embedded in the phospholipid bilayer
Classified into two accordance to their
functions:
Pore (channel) proteins : form aqueous pores
spanning the lipid bilayer of the plasma
membrane, allows certain water soluble
solutes to traverse the membrane when open
Carrier (transporter) proteins : transport
specific substances (binding sites for
molecules)
Comprised of carbohydrates and proteins
Glycolipids ; consists of carbohydrates and
lipids; found on the surface of cells as part of
the way for cells to recognise each other
Cholesterol ; will insert themselves into the
bilayer of phospholipids with its polar
hydroxyl group close to the phospholipid
head group
Movement of substances across the plasma
membrane from a region of HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH
concentration to a region of LOW LOW LOW LOW
concentration
Do not require energy
Substances can move freely without using
energy across the membrane through SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE
diffusion or with help of transport proteins in
the membrane through FACILITATED FACILITATED FACILITATED FACILITATED
diffusion
Molecules diffuse across the plasma
membrane down the concentration gradient
through phospholipid bilayer until
equilibrium is reached
At equilibrium, molecules continue to move
back and forth, but there is no net change in
concentration on either side of the
membrane.
The molecules are evenly distributed
Soluble substances Soluble substances Soluble substances Soluble substances :
Small uncharged polar (water soluble)
molecules such as oxygen, carbon dioxide
and water
Substances that dissolve in fats such as fatty
acids, glycerol and also vitamins A, D, E and K
The bigger the concentration gradient, the
faster the rate of diffusion
Passive transport by
simple diffusion
occurs at alveolus
in the lungs during
gaseous exchange
Passive transport of water.
Diffusion of water molecules down their
concentration gradient through a semi-
permeable membrane
Higher water concentration to lower water
concentration= concentration both sides are
the same
Need the help of transport proteins
The rate of facilitated diffusion depends on
the number of transport protein molecules in
the membrane and how fast they can move
their specific solute
Occurs with the help of carrier proteins, only
allows larger uncharged polar molecules
(insoluble in fats) such as glucose and amino
acids
Examples :
Glucose
Amino acids
Mineral ions
Transportation of glucose and amino acids is
by the carrier proteins while that of mineral
ions is through the pore protein molecules
Movement of substances across the plasma
membrane from a region of LOW LOW LOW LOW concentration concentration concentration concentration
to a region of HIGH concentration HIGH concentration HIGH concentration HIGH concentration
The substances move across a membrane against
the concentration gradient
Require energy ---transport protein change the
shape of the protein and to pump or transport
the substances across the membrane
Example :
Intake of mineral ions by the root hairs of
plant
As the plant needs mineral ions, it has to
pump the ions across the membrane of the
root hairs against the concentration gradient.