CHAPTER 3 : MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

NECESSITY FOR MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

To

provide nutrients for metabolism & growth; To supply oxygen for respiration; To regulate solute concentration & suitable pH for maintaining a stable internal environment for optimal enzymatic activities To maintain an ion concentration gradient required for nerve & muscle cell activities;

To

secrete useful substances, for example, digestive enzymes & hormones; To eliminate toxic waste products such as urea & carbon dioxide

Substances can move into or out of a cell by :

Passive transport Simple diffusion Osmosis Facilitated diffusion Active

transport

Movement of substances across the plasma membrane would depend on :

Selectivity

of the partially permeable

membrane; The difference in concentration between the cell & extracellular fluid

PASSIVE TRANSPORT

The movement of particles (molecules/ions) within a gas or liquid across the plasma membrane from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration & does not require expenditure of energy from ATP. The substances move down their concentration gradient through different ways :
Phospholipid bilayer Pore protein/ channel protein Carrier protein

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
The net movement of molecules / ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration until an equilibrium is reached. Substances :

Small non-polar molecules O2 & CO2 Lipid-soluble substances vitamins ADEK, steroids & alcohols Water molecules

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
The bigger the concentration gradient the faster the rate of diffusion. These substances will diffuse down the concentration gradient if there is a concentration gradient. (until an equilibrium is reached). Examples : gaseous exchange between the alveolus & the blood capillaries, blood capillaries & body cells.

osmosis

The diffusion of water molecules (solvent) from a region of higher water concentration (diluted solution) to a region of lower water concentration (concentrated solution) through a semi-permeable membrane until an equilibrium is reached.

A special type of diffusion. Examples :

Absorption of water from soil solution by plant root hairs Reabsorption of water by kidney tubules

FACILITATED DIFFUSION

The movement of molecules / ions down their concentration gradient assisted by transport proteins (channel protein / pore protein) across the plasma membrane without using energy.

The transport proteins facilitate & increase the rate of diffusion across the plasma membrane.
Not require energy

FACILITATED DIFFUSION

The rate of facilitated diffusion depends on the number of transport protein molecules in the membrane & how fast they can move their specific solute.

Only allows small charged molecules such as mineral ions to pass through the pore protein. Carrier protein : allows larger uncharged polar molecules glucose & amino acids to cross the membrane.

THE MECHANISM
1. 2.

3.

4.

The solute moves to the binding site of the specific carrier protein. The solute binds to the carrier protein at the binding site & triggers the carrier protein to change its shape. The carrier protein changes its shape & moves the solute across the membrane. The carrier protein returns back to its original shape.

FACILITATED DIFFUSION

The solutes can be transported by carrier proteins in either direction but the net movement is always down the concentration gradient. Examples : the transportation of glucose, amino acids & mineral ions across the membrane of the vilus at the ileum & body cells.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

The movement of substances across the plasma membrane from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration (against the concentration gradient) by using metabolic energy.

The substances move across a membrane against the concentration gradient, using metabolic energy
Perform by a specific protein embedded in the plasma membrane.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Require energy to change the shape of the protein such that the substance can be pumped across the membrane. Example : absorption of potassium ions from pond water by algae Nitella sp. against a concentration gradient, the intake of mineral ions by the plant root hairs, Na+/ K+ protein pumps in the plasma membrane of neurones transport Na+ & K+ against their concentration gradients.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE & ACTIVE TRANSPORT

PASSIVE TRANSPORT SIMILARITIES ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Transport of substances across the plasma membrane Need a difference of concentration gradient between extracellular environment & the cell

DIFFERENCES Follow Does not expend energy Until an equilibrium is reached

Concentration gradient Cellular energy Outcome of the process

Against Need to expend energy Depends on the cells requirement (no need to reach an equilibrium)

Non-living & living organisms

Simple diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion

Occurs in
Name of process Examples

Living organisms only

Active transport

Questions
The movement of water molecules across a semi permeable membrane OSMOSIS is called ______ In facilitated diffusion, the carrier molecules arePROTEINS ______ Simple diffusion takes place during:

I. Absorption of water by root hairs II. Gaseous exchange in Amoeba sp. III. Gaseous exchange at the alveolus

HAEMOLYSIS occurs when red blood cells ________ are left in distilled water for one hour. Foods are preserved in order to:

A. B. C. D.

Maintain their colours Maintain their vitamin contents Keep them fresh Prevent them from turning bad due to bacterial action

Preserving strawberries in a sugar solution involves

I. II. III. IV. Active transport Plasmolysis Osmosis condensation