TRANSPORT MECHANISMS

Arvin C. Diamante
Master Teacher II
Nicolas L. Galvez Memorial Integrated NHS
October 17, 2022
 Coverage
• Passive Transport • Active Transport
– Simple Diffusion – Sodium-Potassium
• Osmosis Pump
– Facilitated Transport – Bulk / Vesicular
• Endocytosis
– Phagocytosis
– Pinocytosis
• Exocytosis
 Requirements of Cell
1. A genetic material (such as DNA) that
permits the reproduction of new cells.
2. A metabolic machinery for the
maintenance of life-sustaining activities.
3. A cell membrane that allows exchanges of
materials into and out of the cell.
 Functions of Cell Membrane
• Cell membrane separates the components
of a cell from its environment—surrounds
the cell
• “Gatekeeper” of the cell—regulates the
flow of materials into and out of cell—
selectively permeable
• Cell membrane helps cells maintain
homeostasis—stable internal balance
The Cell Membrane
The cell membrane is a
dynamic and intricate
structure that regulates
material transported
across the membrane.
The membrane is
selectively permeable (or
semi-permeable)
meaning that certain
molecules can cross the
membrane and others
cannot.
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 Plasma Membrane Components
and Location
Component Functions
Phospholipid -Main membrane fabric
Cholesterol -Maintains the integrity and fluidity of
the plasma membrane
-Dampens effects of temperature
Integral proteins (for example, -Transport of substance through
integrins) membrane.
-Receptor function
-Cell adhesion
-Structural support
Peripheral proteins -Cell recognition
Carbohydrates (components of -Cell recognition
glycoproteins and glycolipids) -Effective interaction with the aqueous
environment
 Fluid Mosaic Model
1. Phospholipids arranged in a bilayer
2. Globular Proteins inserted in the lipid
bilayer
 Phospholipid Structure
a. Glycerol – a 3-carbon polyalcohol acting
as a backbone for the phospholipid
b. 2 Fatty acids attached to the glycerol
-Their nonpolar nature makes them
hydrophobic (“water-fearing”).
c. Phosphate group attached to the glycerol
-The phosphate group is polar and hydrophilic
(“water-loving”).
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 Selectively Permeable
• A cell membrane is selectively permeable or semi-
permeable.
• The plasma membrane is a selectively permeable
barrier that allows passage of some molecules but
prevents the passage of many life essential molecules.
• A concentration gradient is a difference between
the concentration on one side of the membrane and
that on the other side
• In a cell, water always moves to reach an equal
concentration on both sides of the membrane.
 Passive vs. Active Transport
• Passive Transport - does not require cell
energy.
– Examples: Diffusion, Facilitated
diffusion and Osmosis
• Active Transport - requires cell energy
(ATP)
– Examples: Sodium-Potassium Pump and
Bulk/ Vesicular Transport
 Passive vs. Active Transport
• Passive transport moves solute from high to
low concentration.
• Active transport moves solute from low to
high concentration.
• Passive transport move solutes down its
concentration gradient, and active transport
move solutes up its concentration gradient.
 Passive Transport
• The transport of molecules or ions
across a membrane with or without
carrier proteins down a concentration
gradient.
 Simple Diffusion
• It involves the spontaneous and random movement
of molecules from one place to another. Here
molecules move in different directions.
• Movement of molecules from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration
across a concentration gradient.
• It continues until the concentration of substances
is uniform throughout.
• Examples: O2, CO2, H2O
Diffusion of oxygen into a cell
The concentration of So the oxygen molecules
oxygen molecules is diffuse into the cell
greater outside the cell
than inside
 Examples of Diffusion
• Gas exchange at the alveoli — oxygen from air to
blood, carbon dioxide from blood to air.
• Gas exchange for photosynthesis — carbon
dioxide from air to leaf, oxygen from leaf to air.
• Gas exchange for respiration — oxygen from
blood to tissue cells, carbon dioxide in opposite
direction.
• Transfer of transmitter substance — acetylcholine
from pre-synaptic to postsynaptic membrane at a
synapse.
 Facilitated Diffusion
• Uses transport proteins to move molecules from
high to low concentration.
• This is the movement of specific molecules down
a concentration gradient, passing through the
membrane via a specific carrier protein. Thus,
rather like enzymes, each carrier has its own shape
and only allows one molecule (or one group of
closely related molecules) to pass through.
• Examples: C6H12O6 amino acid and salts or ions.
 2 Kinds of Proteins involved:
1. CHANNEL PROTEIN
• formed by proteins with a
central pore that is lined
with charged groups.
• help the diffusion of
charged particles such as
Ca2+, Na+, K+, HCO3- and
Cl ions.
• Some channels are gated
and allow cells to regulate
the flow of ions from one
cell to another.
 2 Kinds of Proteins involved:
2. CARRIER PROTEINS
• bind to a specific type of
diffusing molecule.
• have a highly specific
hydrophilic region to which
the solute molecule binds.
• binding cause the protein to
undergo a change in shape
that moves the solute across
the bilayer and release it on
the other side
 Osmosis
• Diffusion of water from a region of high
concentration to a region of low concentration.
• Water can diffuse into or out of a cell, it depends on
the concentration on either side of the cell membrane.
• Osmosis is a special example of diffusion. It is the
diffusion of water through a partially permeable
membrane from a more dilute solution to a more
concentrated solution – down the water potential
gradient).
• Example: H2O
 1. Isotonic
• contains the same
concentration of solute as an
another solution (e.g. the
cell's cytoplasm).
• when cell placed in an
isotonic solution, the water
diffuses into and out of the
cell at the same rate.
• fluid that surrounds the body
cells is isotonic.
 2. Hypotonic
• contains a low concentration
of solute relative to another
solution (e.g. the cell's
cytoplasm).
• cell is placed in a hypotonic
solution, the water diffuses
into the cell, causing the cell to
swell and possibly explode.
 3. Hypertonic
• contains a high concentration
of solute relative to another
solution (e.g. the cell's
cytoplasm).
• when cell is placed in a
hypertonic solution, water
diffuses out of the cell,
causing the cell to shrivel.
http://www.zerobio.com/flashmx/transport.swf
The effects of osmotic pressure in a
plant cell
 Examples of Osmosis
• Absorption of water by plant roots.
• Re-absorption of water by the proximal and
distal convoluted tubules of the nephron.
• Absorption of water by the alimentary canal
— stomach, small intestine and the colon.
Spot the difference
 Active Transport
• The transport of molecules or ions
across a membrane by carrier proteins
against a concentration gradient.
• Cells involved in active transport have
a large number of mitochondria to
provide the ATP required.
Sodium-Potassium Pump
• Example of active
transport
• Exists in most cell
membranes.
• Actively removes
sodium ions from the
cell while actively
accumulating potassium
ions into them from
their surroundings
 Sodium Potassium Pump
• The cell uses energy
(ATP) to actively
transport Na+ out of
the cell and K+ into
the cell against the
concentration
gradient
• For every 3 ATP
used, 3 Na+ go out, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-
and 2 K+ in imDC1txWw
 Bulk/ Vesicular Transport
• It is used for materials too large to enter via
passive or active transport.
• These are vesicles created by folding of cell
membrane onto itself to either engulf or
expel materials.
• 2 Types:
– Endocytosis
– Exocytosis
 1. Endocytosis
• the transport of large particles into the cell
in vesicles formed by folding in of the cell
surface membrane
 Types of Endocytosis
a. Pinocytosis (cell drinking)
• intake of small droplet of
• extracellular fluid along with solute particles
• occurs in all cells often
b. Phagocytosis (cell eating)
• intake of large droplet of extracellular fluid
including particulate matter (bacteria or organic
matter)
• occurs only in specialised cells like amoeba or
macrophages (bacteria fighting immune cells)
 2 Types of Endocytosis

• Phagocytosis- Solid
particles are ingested
into the cell.

• Pinocytosis – liquids and

very small molecules are
taken into the cell.
 2. Exocytosis
• the reverse process and is used to secrete
proteins, e.g., digestive enzymes, out of the
cells.
• vesicle forms inside cell moves to membrane
and empties contents outside of cell
• ex. pancreas secretes insulin
EXO and ENDO