Chapter 3 Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane

3.1 Movement across the Plasma Membrane

Substances required by the cell are nutrients (glucose and minerals) and oxygen
Substances to be eliminated are metabolic wastes
Why is this important?
To continue cellular life process, concentration of ions inside the cell must be
different than outside the cell
Maintain a constant cellular environment (homeostasis)
Structure
Composed of phospholipids and proteins
Fluid-mosaic model

Phospholipid bilayer barrier which isolates two sides of membrane

Contains cholesterol stabilize and strengthen plasma membrane
Pore protein forms channel/pore
Carrier protein acts as carrier
Glycoprotein protein with carbohydrate attached
Fluidity of membrane cells are more flexible
The plasma membrane is semi-permeable/selectively permeable (only some
substances can pass through)
Factors determining whether molecule can pass through size and polarity
Molecules that can pass through
Lipid-soluble molecules (fatty acids and glycerol)
Non-polar molecules (oxygen and carbon dioxide)
Small molecules such as water ( Basically water is a polar molecule. However, its small
size enables it to slide between phospholipid bilayer)
Pore proteins allow small watersoluble molecules and ions to pass through
Carrier proteins have site that can bind to specific molecules (glucose
molecules) before transporting them to plasma membrane.
Passive transport (movement of substances across plasma membrane without input
of energy) Example: gaseous exchange in alveolus and blood capillary

Simple diffusion
Movement of substances from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration, thus, going down a concentration gradient until a dynamic equilibrium is
reached
Osmosis: Diffusion of water
Movement of water molecules from a dilute solution (water concentration high) to a
concentrated solution (water concentration low) through semi-permeable membrane
Facilitated diffusion
Movement of substances across plasma membrane with the aid of carrier proteins and
pores following the concentration gradient
Example: ions, nucleic acids, amino acids and glucose
Carrier protein are specific (only can bind with certain molecules)
Pore proteins form pore/channel

Active transport

Movement of solute/ion across plasma membrane against concentration gradient

Requires energy and carrier protein
Energy comes from ATP (adenosine triphosphate) generated during respiration in
mitochondria
Carrier protein has an active site to bind with molecule and another active site to
bind with ATP. The carrier protein changes shape when phosphate group from ATP
binds to it. Then, the solute is moved across the membrane.
Ex. Absorption of water and intake of ions in plants
 Passive Transport Differences Active Transport
Follows concentration Concentration gradient Opposes concentration
gradient gradient
Does not need energy Cellular energy Consumes energy
Can take place in living Condition Can only take place in
cells or non-living physical living cells
conditions

3.2 Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane in Daily Life

Hypotonic- A solution with higher water potential than another solution

Hypertonic- A solution with lower water potential than another solution
Isotonic- A solution with same water potential with another solution
Haemolysis- The bursting of red blood cells
Crenation- The shrinking of red blood cells
Plasmolysis- A shrinking of cytoplasm due to osmosis
Deplasmolysis- A process of a cell gaining its turgidity back

Animal and Plant Cells in an Isotonic Solution

Water diffuses into and out of cell at equal rate. Hence, the cell retains its normal
shape.Likewise with the plant cell.

Animal and Plant Cells in a Hypotonic Solution

In animal cell, water enters the cell and causes it to swell up and eventually to burst (red
blood cell). This is because the plasma membrane is too thin towithstand the pressure.
The bursting of red blood cells is known as haemolysis. In plant cell, water enters the
large central vacuole of the cell, causing the vacuole to expand and swell up and the
plasma membrane pushes against the cell wall. In this condition, the cell is said to be
turgid. The cell does not burst because the rigid cell wall able to withstand the
pressure. This condition creates turgor pressure. Turgidity is important to support, give
shape, and causing the guard cell to swell so that the stomata remains open for
photosynthesis.

Animal and Plant Cells in a Hypertonic Solution

In animal cell, there is a net movement of water from inside to outside of the cell. This
causes the cell to shrink. In red blood cell, the cell shrivel and the plasma membrane
crinkles up. The cell has undergone crenation. In plant cell, water diffuses out of
vacuole through osmosis. Both vacuole and cytoplasm shrink and plasma membrane pulls
away from cell wall (plasmolysis). The cell becomes flaccid. The flaccidity causes the
plant to become limp and stem to drop (wilting). The cell can deplasmolysed by immersing
it back to a hypotonic solution.
 Wilting occurs in plants when too much fertilizers like potassium nitrate is given.
Too much fertilizers cause the soil to turn hypertonic to the plant cell. As a
result, water diffuses from the cell sap into the soil by osmosis and the cell is
plasmolysed. Water shortage in soil also causes the plant to wilt.

Food such as mushrooms, fruits and fish can be preserved using natural
preservatives (salt and sugar). The preservative makes the surroundings more
hypertonic to the food and causes water to leave through osmosis. The food
becomes dehydrated. Microbes loses water to the surrounding and dies.

3.3 Appreciating the Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane

The proper functioning of plasma membrane is important to:
Maintain a suitable pH and ionic concentration inside the cell for enzymatic
activities
To obtain certain food supplies for energy and raw materials
To remove toxic substances