Stem Gen Bio 1 q1 m4

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General Biology 1
First Quarter
Module No. 4 of 5
Transport Mechanisms
Writer: Roland R. Agra
HONOR CODE
AS A MEMBER OF THE NAMUAC ACADEMY EAGLES FAMILY, I WILL CONDUCT
MYSELF WITH INTEGRITY & SINCERITY AT ALL TIMES, DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION &
JUSTICE IN ALL MY ACTIONS, UPHOLD THE VALUE OF EXCELLENCE, AND ABIDE BY THE
EXPECTATIONS SET FORTH IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
I MAKE THIS PLEDGE IN THE SPIRIT OF HONOR & TRUST.
PERFORMANCE TASK IN GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

GOAL To create a properly labelled 3D model of an animal or plant cell using
available materials
ROLE Scientist, Visual artist, Craftsman
AUDIENCE Science Club members
SITUATION You were invited to speak before the science students of your Alma
mater. You are expected to share your experiences as a molecular
biologist and will help the school win in the Cell Art Competition. You
and the students will create a cell model of your choice and select items
to represent various cell structures to justify the actual parts of the cell
and its function.
PRODUCT 3D Model
STANDARDS Appearance, Creativity & Resourcefulness, Cell Type, Details &
Representation, Labelled Organelles, Functions of Organelles
21ST CENTURY SKILLS CORE VALUE TASK

CRITICAL THINKING Excellence How to create a 3D model of a cell
CREATIVITY Excellence The learners will use various materials to create a
3D model
COLLABORATION Justice The learners will work together to come up with a
3D model
CROSS CULTURAL
UNDERSTANDING
COMPUTER/ICT
CAREER/SELF RELIANCE
COMMUNICATION Integrity The learners will present the parts and functions of
the cell
STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

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SCORING RUBRIC FOR THE PERFORMANCE TASK

CRITERIA 4 3 2 1
The cell model The cell model The cell model is The cell model
stands out stands out like the rest, stands out
from the rest, from the rest, showing from the rest,
showing evidence of showing evidence of evidence of showing evidence
excellent effort. considerable effort. considerable of fair effort.
effort.
The cell model The cell model The cell model The cell model
uses materials not uses materials not uses materials uses materials
often seen in most often seen in most often seen in often seen in most
projects and projects and most projects projects and
demonstrates demonstrates and demonstrates fair
commendable considerable demonstrates creativity and
creativity and creativity and commendable resourcefulness.
resourcefulness. resourcefulness. creativity and
resourcefulness.
The cell is an The cell is a clear The cell is a The cell is a fair
excellent representation of an considerable representation of
representation of an animal or plant cell. representation of an animal or plant
animal or plant cell. an animal or cell.
plant cell.
All organelles & cell All organelles & cell All organelles & All organelles &
parts parts cell parts cell parts are fairly
are accurately are considerably are considerably detailed and
detailed and clearly detailed and detailed and represented. Not
represented. represented. represented. Not all organelles are
Actual numbers of o Actual numbers of o all represented.
rganelles are rganelles are organelles are
represented. represented. represented.
11+ organelles 8-10 organelles 5-7 organelles Less than
are correctly are correctly are correctly 5 organelles
located and located and labeled located and are correctly
properly labeled on on the model. labeled on the located and
the model. model. labeled on the
model.
The functions of all The functions of all The functions of The functions of all
organelles are organelles are some organelles are
excellently considerably organelles are somewhat
described in detail. described in detail. considerably described in detail
described in with a lot of errors.
detail with minor
errors.
EXPECTATIONS
After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Describe the structural components of the cell membrane (STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-11)

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2. Relate the structure and composition of the cell membrane to its function (STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-
h-12)
3. Explain transport mechanisms in cells (diffusion, osmosis, facilitated transport, active transport)
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-13)
4. Differentiate exocytosis and endocytosis (STEM_BIO11/12-Ig-h-14)
Note: This module is good for two weeks.
PRE-TEST
Directions. Read and understand each question. Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. Which plasma membrane component can be either found on its surface or embedded in the
membrane structure?
a. protein c. carbohydrate
b. cholesterol d. phospholipid
2. What is the primary function of carbohydrates attached to the exterior of cell membranes?
a. identification of the cell c. strengthening the membrane
b. flexibility of the membrane d. channels through membrane
3. The relationship of cellular transport mechanism to the plasma membrane is to __?

a. to protect intracellular components from the extracellular environment.
b. to transport materials into or out of the cell
c. to enclose and define the borders of the cell
d. to transmit signals via complex proteins
4. What is the most direct form of transport mechanisms in cells?

a. passive c. osmosis
b. active d. exocytosis
5. What transport mechanism is involved when molecules move from a region of high concentration
to a region of low concentration?
a. facilitated transport c. osmosis
b. active d. diffusion
OVERVIEW
With the pandemic today in the Philippines, you can just imagine the Cagayan de Oro‘s front
liners and law enforcers at the check points of a city or security guards at the mall entrances (figure
below) as plasma membranes (cell membranes) which have a lot of things to do such as permitting who‘ll
enter the establishment (represents the cell) or not and even exiting is checked as well; Carrying goods
in a truck or individuals on a motorcycle towards a particular cordoned area which depicts different means
or ways on how materials are transported in and out of the cell - thus the transport mechanisms.
In cellular biology, membrane transport refers to the collection of mechanisms that regulate
the passage of solutes such as ions and small molecules through biological membranes, which are lipid
bilayers that contain proteins embedded in them.
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Plasma membrane (Cell Membrane) plays a vital role in the transport mechanisms and
separates the living cell from its surroundings. To perform these roles, it needs lipids, which make a semi-
permeable barrier between the cell and its environment. It also needs proteins, which are involved in
cross-membrane transport and cell communication, and carbohydrates (sugars and sugar chains), which
decorate both the proteins and lipids and help cells recognize each other.
.
Even in a mall or at the checkpoints, the people and objects move from one location to another; they
cross or are contained within certain boundaries. Analogously, a cell membrane ‘s functions involve movement
within the cell and across the boundaries in the process of intracellular and intercellular activities. Just like the law
enforcers or security guards, they allow some substances to pass through, but not others.
LESSON PROPER
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE
The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, is a double layer of lipids and
proteins that surrounds a cell and separates the cytoplasm (the contents of the cell) from its surrounding
environment. It is selectively permeable, which means that it only lets certain molecules enter and exit. It
can also control the amount of some substances that go into or out of the cell. The cell membrane helps
in anchoring the cytoskeleton to provide shape to the cell, and in attaching to the extracellular matrix and
other cells to help group cells together to form tissues. It regulates cell growth through the balance of
endocytosis and exocytosis.
The modern understanding of the cellular or plasma membrane is referred to as the fluid mosaic
model or fluid mosaics of lipids and proteins. It is composed of a bilayer of phospholipids, with their
hydrophobic, fatty acid tails in contact with each other The landscape of the membrane is studded with
proteins, some of which span the membrane. Some of these proteins serve to transport materials into or
out of the cell. Carbohydrates are attached to some of the proteins and lipids on the outward-facing
surface of the membrane forming complexes which function is to identify the cell to other cells. Cell
membranes enclose and define the borders of cells, but rather than being a static bag, they are dynamic
and constantly in flux.
The fluidity of the membrane is due to temperature, the configuration of the unsaturated fatty
acid tails (some kinked or form a sharp twist by double bonds), the presence of cholesterol embedded in
the membrane, and the mosaic nature of the proteins and protein-carbohydrate combinations, which are
not firmly fixed in place.

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Structural Component of Cellular Membrane
In 1935, Davson-Danielli, the sandwich model of membrane structure stated that the membrane was made
up of a phospholipid bilayer sandwiched between two protein layers.
Key Takes of the Fluid Nature of the CM:

• Phospholipids in the plasma membrane can move within the bilayer
• Most of the lipids, and some proteins, drift laterally
• Rarely does a molecule flip-flop transversely across the membrane
• As temperatures cool, membranes switch from a fluid state to a solid state.
• The temperature at which a membrane solidifies depends on the types of lipids.
• Membranes rich in unsaturated fatty acids are more fluid than those rich in saturated fatty acids.
• Membranes must be fluid to work properly; they are usually about as fluid as salad oil.
• The steroid cholesterol has different effects on membrane fluidity at different temperatures.
• At warm temperatures (such as 37°C), cholesterol restrains movement of Phospholipids.
• At cool temperatures, it maintains fluidity by preventing tight packing.

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Lateral movement occurs 107 Flip-flopping across the membrane is

times per second. rare ~ (once per month).
Movement of phospholipids within the bilayer
All cells have a cell membrane. These membranes are composed primarily of phospholipids and
proteins and are typically described as phospholipid bi-layers. The cell membrane has a fluid consistency
due to being made up of large part of phospholipids, and because of this, proteins move freely across its
surface. The multitude of different proteins and lipids in the cell membrane give it the look of a mosaic.
Phospholipids are the main component of the cell membrane. These are lipid molecules made
up of a polar phosphate group head and two nonpolar fatty acid tails. The polar phosphate group head is
hydrophobic which means “water- loving” (attracted), while the nonpolar fatty acid tails are hydrophobic
which means “water- hating” (repelled). The phospholipid bilayer also serves as binding sites for other
substances such as proteins.
The properties of phospholipid molecules allow them to spontaneously form a double layered
membrane. When in water or an aqueous solution, which includes the inside of the body, the hydrophilic
heads of phospholipids will orient themselves to be on the outside, while the hydrophobic tails will be on
the inside. The technical term for this double layer of phospholipids that forms the cell membrane is a
phospholipid bilayer. Eukaryotic cells, which make up the bodies of all organisms except for bacteria and
archaea, also have a nucleus that is surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer membrane.
In addition, the cell membrane contains glycolipids and sterols. One important sterol is
cholesterol, which regulates the fluidity of the cell membrane in animal cells. When there is less
cholesterol, membranes become more fluid, but also more permeable to molecules. The amount of
cholesterol in the membrane helps maintain its permeability so that the right amount of molecules can
enter the cell at a time, not too many or too few.
The cell membrane also contains many different proteins. Proteins make up about half of the
cell membrane. Many of these proteins are transmembrane proteins, which are embedded in the
membrane but stick out on both sides. Some of these proteins are receptors which bind to signal
molecules, while others are ion channels which are the only means of allowing ions into or out of the cell.
Furthermore, the cell membrane allows the cell to interact with its environment and communicate with
other cells. The cell can perform its roles due to its structural composition.

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Fluid Viscous
Unsaturated hydrocarbon tails Saturated hydrocarbon tails
(a) Unsaturated versus

saturated hydrocarbon tails
(b) Cholesterol within the

animal cell membrane Cholesterol
Fluidity of cell membrane in saturated and unsaturated fats
Cell Membrane Lipids
a. Phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes. Phospholipids form a lipid bilayer in
which their hydrophilic (attracted to water) head areas spontaneously arrange to face the
aqueous cytosol and the extracellular fluid, while their hydrophobic (repelled by water) tail areas
face away from the cytosol and extracellular fluid. The lipid bilayer is semi-permeable, allowing
only certain molecules to diffuse across the membrane.
b. Cholesterol is another lipid component of animal cell membrane. Cholesterol molecules are
selectively dispersed between membrane phospholipids. This helps to keep cell membranes
from becoming stiff by preventing phospholipids from being too closely packed together.
Cholesterol is not found in the membranes of plant cells.
c. Glycolipids are located on cell membrane surfaces and have a carbohydrate sugar chain
attached to them. They help the cell to recognize other cells of the body.
Cell Membrane Proteins
The cell membrane contains two types of associated proteins. Peripheral membrane proteins
are exterior to and connected to the membrane by interactions with other proteins. Integral membrane
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proteins are inserted into the membrane and most pass through the membrane. Portions of these
transmembrane proteins are exposed on both sides of the membrane. Cell membrane proteins have a
number of different functions.
a. Structural proteins help to give the cell support and shape.

b. Cell membrane receptor proteins help cells communicate with their external environment
through the use of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signaling molecules.
c. Transport proteins, such as globular proteins, transport molecules across cell membranes
through facilitated diffusion.
d. Glycoproteins have a carbohydrate chain attached to them. They are embedded in the cell
membrane and help in cell to cell communications and molecule transport across the membrane.
COMPONENT LOCATION FEATURE/FUNCTION

-the most abundant lipid in the
Phospholipids Main fabric of the membrane plasma membrane
-are amphipathic molecules
Tucked between the hydrophobic
Cholesterol Dampen effects of temperature
tails of the membrane phospholipids
Embedded in the phospholipid bilayer;
Transport of substance through
Integral Proteins may or may not extend through both
membrane
layers
On the inner or outer surface of the
Peripheral Proteins phospholipid bilayer, but not Cell recognition
embedded in its hydrophobic core
Attached to proteins or lipids on the -Cell recognition
extracellular side of the membrane -Effective interaction with the
Carbohydrate Chains
(forming glycoproteins and aqueous environment
glycolipids)
RELATIONSHIP OF THE STRUCTURE & COMPOSITION OF THE CELL MEMBRANE TO ITS

FUNCTION
The plasma membrane (also known as the cell membrane or cytoplasmic membrane) is a
biological membrane that separates the interior of a cell from its outside environment. The primary
function of the plasma membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. Composed of a phospholipid
bilayer with embedded proteins, the plasma membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic
molecules and regulates the movement of substances in and out of cells. Plasma membranes must be
very flexible in order to allow certain cells, such as red blood cells and white blood cells, to change shape
as they pass through narrow capillaries.
The plasma membrane also plays a role in anchoring the cytoskeleton to provide shape to the
cell, and in attaching to the extracellular matrix and other cells to help group cells together to form tissues.
The membrane also maintains the cell potential. In short, if the cell is represented by a castle, the plasma
membrane is the wall that provides structure for the buildings inside the wall, regulates which people
leave and enter the castle, and conveys messages to and from neighboring castles. Just as a hole in the
wall can be a disaster for the castle, a rupture in the plasma membrane causes the cell to lyse and die.

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CELL TRANSPORT MECHANISMS
Cell transport refers to the

movement of substances across the cell
membrane. Probably the most important
feature of a cell's phospholipid membranes
is that they are selectively permeable. A
membrane that is selectively permeable, or
semipermeable, has control over what
molecules or ions can enter or leave the cell,
as shown in figure below. This feature https://slideplayer.com/slide/14106872/
allows a cell to control the transport of
materials, as dictated by the cell's function.
The permeability of a membrane is
dependent on the organization and
characteristics of the membrane lipids and
proteins. In this way, cell membranes help
maintain a state of homeostasis within cells
(and tissues, organs, and organ systems) so
that an organism can stay alive and healthy.
Plasma membranes must allow certain substances to enter and leave a cell, and prevent some
harmful materials from entering and some essential materials from leaving. In other words, plasma
membranes are selectively permeable—they allow some substances to pass through, but not others. If
they were to lose this selectivity, the cell would no longer be able to sustain itself, and it would be
destroyed. Some cells require larger amounts of specific substances. They must have a way of obtaining
these materials from extracellular fluids. This may happen passively, as certain materials move back and
forth, or the cell may have special mechanisms that facilitate transport. Some materials are so important
to a cell that it spends some of its energy, hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to obtain these
materials. Red blood cells use some of their energy doing just that. Most cells spend the majority of their
energy to maintain an imbalance of sodium and potassium ions between the cell's interior and exterior,
as well as on protein synthesis.
The most direct forms of membrane transport are passive. Passive transport is a naturally
occurring phenomenon and does not require the cell to exert any of its energy to accomplish the
movement. In passive transport, substances move from an area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration. A physical space in which there is a single substance concentration range has a
concentration gradient.

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Selective Permeability
Plasma membranes lack symmetry: the membrane's exterior is not identical to its interior There
is a significant difference between the arrangement of proteins and phospholipids and between the two
leaflets that form a membrane. On the membrane's interior, some proteins serve to anchor the membrane
to cytoskeleton's fibers. There are peripheral proteins on the membrane's exterior that bind extracellular
matrix elements. Carbohydrates, attached to lipids or proteins, are also on the plasma membrane's
exterior surface. These carbohydrate complexes help the cell bind required substances in the
extracellular fluid. This adds considerably to plasma membrane's selective nature.
The plasma
membrane's exterior
surface is not identical to its
interior surface. Recall that
plasma membranes are
amphiphilic: They have
hydrophilic and
hydrophobic regions. This
characteristic helps move
some materials through the
membrane and hinders the
movement of others. Non-
polar and lipid-soluble
material with a low
molecular weight can easily
slip through the
membrane's hydrophobic
lipid core. Substances such as the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K readily pass through the plasma
membranes in the digestive tract and other tissues. Fat-soluble drugs and hormones also gain easy entry
into cells and readily transport themselves into the body’s tissues and organs. Oxygen and carbon dioxide
molecules have no charge and pass through membranes by simple diffusion.
Polar substances present problems for the membrane. While some polar molecules connect
easily with the cell's outside, they cannot readily pass through the plasma membrane's lipid core.
Additionally, while small ions could easily slip through the spaces in the membrane's mosaic, their charge
prevents them from doing so. Ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride must have special
means of penetrating plasma membranes. Simple sugars and amino acids also need the help of various
transmembrane proteins (channels) to transport themselves across plasma membranes.
Key Takes of the Permeability of the Lipid Bilayer

• Hydrophobic (nonpolar) molecules, such as hydrocarbons, can dissolve in the lipid bilayer and
pass through the membrane rapidly.
• Hydrophilic (Polar) molecules, such as sugars, do not cross the membrane easily.
Types of Cell Transport
A. Passive Transport. Passive transport involves the movement of material along a concentration
gradient (high concentration to low concentration). Because materials are moving down a
concentration gradient, it does not require the expenditure of energy.

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1. Simple diffusion is the movement of

small or lipophilic molecules through
the membrane. (e.g. O2, CO2, etc.).
Concentration gradient is the
difference in concentration between the
two regions. Diffusion will continue
until this gradient has been eliminated.
Since diffusion moves materials from
an area of higher concentration to the
lower, it is described as moving solutes
"down the concentration gradient." The
result of diffusion is an equal
concentration, or equilibrium, of
molecules on both sides of the membrane.
Rivers flow from a higher elevation to

lower ones. River currents are generated due
to the force of gravity, which makes the water
flow downward. This occurs because of the
height difference between its origin
(mountains) and destination (seas). If you
swim on it, you are moved freely without exerting an effort (just
go with the flow) due to its currents.
River currents are comparable to

diffusion process that occurs in cells. Materials move through the cell membrane from a higher
concentration region to a lower one. The difference in concentration makes up an effect through the cell
which we call as diffusion. Due to this effect, materials are moved freely – that is going with the flow in or
out of the cell.
Molecules can move through the cell’s cytosol by diffusion, and some molecules also diffuse
across the plasma membrane (as shown in the picture above). Each individual substance in a solution or
space has its own concentration gradient, independent of the concentration gradients of other materials,
and will diffuse according to that gradient. Other factors being equal, a stronger concentration gradient
(larger concentration difference between regions) results in faster diffusion. Thus, in a single cell, there
can be different rates and directions of diffusion for different molecules. For example, oxygen might move
into the cell by diffusion, while at the same time, carbon dioxide might move out in obedience to its own
Factors That Affect Diffusion
Molecules move constantly in a random manner at a rate that depends on their mass, their
environment, and the amount of thermal energy they possess, which in turn is a function of temperature.
This movement accounts for the diffusion of molecules through whatever medium in which they are
localized.
A substance will tend to move into any space available to it until it is evenly distributed throughout
it. After a substance has diffused completely through a space removing its concentration gradient,
molecules will still move around in the space, but there will be no net movement of the number of

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molecules from one area to another. This lack

of a concentration gradient in which there is no
net movement of a substance is known as
dynamic equilibrium. While diffusion will go
forward in the presence of a concentration
gradient of a substance, several factors affect
the rate of diffusion:
i. Extent of the concentration gradient:

The greater the difference in
concentration, the more rapid the
diffusion. The closer the distribution of
the material gets to equilibrium, the
slower the rate of diffusion becomes.
ii. Mass of the molecules diffusing:
Heavier molecules move more slowly; therefore, they diffuse more slowly. The reverse is true for
lighter molecules.
iii. Temperature: Higher temperatures increase the energy and therefore the movement of the
molecules, increasing the rate of diffusion. Lower temperatures decrease the energy of the
molecules, thus decreasing the rate of diffusion.
iv. Solvent density: As the density of a solvent increases, the rate of diffusion decreases. The
molecules slow down because they have a more difficult time getting through the denser medium.
If the medium is less dense, diffusion increases. Because cells primarily use diffusion to move
materials within the cytoplasm, any increase in the cytoplasm’s density will inhibit the movement
of the materials. An example of this is a person experiencing dehydration. As the body’s cells
lose water, the rate of diffusion decreases in the cytoplasm, and the cells’ functions deteriorate.
Neurons tend to be very sensitive to this effect. Dehydration frequently leads to unconsciousness
and possibly coma because of the decrease in diffusion rate within the cells.
v. Solubility: As discussed earlier, nonpolar or lipid-soluble materials pass through plasma
membranes more easily than polar materials, allowing a faster rate of diffusion.
vi. Surface area and thickness of the plasma membrane: Increased surface area increases the rate
of diffusion, whereas a thicker membrane reduces it.
vii. Distance travelled: The greater the distance that a substance must travel, the slower the rate of
diffusion. This places an upper limitation on cell size. A large, spherical cell will die because
nutrients or waste cannot reach or leave the center of the cell. Therefore, cells must either be
small in size, as in the case of many
prokaryotes, or be flattened, as with many
single-celled eukaryotes.
2. Osmosis is the movement of water

molecules through the membrane.
(dependent on solute concentrations).
Water molecules move from a region of
high concentration to a region of low
concentration but the direction depends on
the relative concentration of water
molecules on either side of the cell
membrane.

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If you wash your clothes by hand for a long time your finger will get pruned or wrinkled just like
the picture on the left. In this case, the finger skin absorbs water and gets expanded. What is the reason
behind this pruning/wrinkling? It is because of osmosis – the driving power of water!
At the cellular level, osmosis is a very common process. It is another passive transport
mechanism that requires no energy in order to occur. Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules. Water
moves into and out of cells depending on the differences of solute concentrations outside and inside
the cell.
Imagine you have a cup that has 100ml water, and you add 15g of table sugar to the water. The
sugar dissolves and the mixture that is now in the cup is made up of a solute (the sugar) that is dissolved
in the solvent (the water). The mixture of a solute in a solvent is called a solution. Imagine now that you
have a second cup with 100ml of water, and you add 45 grams of table sugar to the water. Just like the
first cup, the sugar is the solute, and the water is the solvent. But now you have two mixtures of different
solute concentrations. In comparing two solutions of unequal solute concentration, the solution with the
higher solute concentration is hypertonic, and the solution with the lower solute concentration is
hypotonic. Solutions of equal solute concentration are isotonic. The first sugar solution is hypotonic to
the second solution. The second sugar solution is hypertonic to the first. You now add the two solutions
to a beaker that has been divided by a selectively permeable membrane, with pores that are too small
for the sugar molecules to pass through, but are big enough for the water molecules to pass through.
The hypertonic solution is on one side of the membrane and the hypotonic solution on the other.
The hypertonic solution has a lower water concentration than the hypotonic solution, so a concentration
gradient of water now exists across the membrane. Water molecules will move from the side of higher
water concentration to the side of lower concentration until both solutions are isotonic. At this point,
equilibrium is reached.
Water moves into and out of cells by osmosis. If a cell is in a hypertonic solution, the solution
has a lower water concentration than the cell cytosol, and water moves out of the cell until both solutions
are isotonic. Cells placed in a hypotonic solution will take in water across their membrane until both the
external solution and the cytosol are isotonic.
A cell that does not have a rigid

cell wall, such as a red blood cell, will
swell and lyse (burst) when placed in a
hypotonic solution. Cells with a cell wall
will swell when placed in a hypotonic
solution, but once the cell is turgid (firm),
the tough cell wall prevents any more
water from entering the cell. When
placed in a hypertonic solution, a cell
without a cell wall will lose water to the
environment, shrivel, and probably die.
In a hypertonic solution, a cell with a cell
wall will lose water too. The plasma
membrane pulls away from the cell wall
as it shrivels, a process called
plasmolysis. Animal cells tend to do
best in an isotonic environment, plant
cells tend to do best in a hypotonic environment.

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3. Facilitated transport or facilitated diffusion is the movement of large or charged molecules

via channel proteins that facilitate the transport (e.g. ions, sucrose, etc.).
Take as an example of facilitated transport the act of

playing the tunnel slides in a park. You do not need to exert a
force in order to move through a slide tunnel. As long as you
are at a position higher than the ground you slide down
naturally because of potential energy. The slide tunnel will
just facilitate in moving you to the bottom.
In like manner, cells need help in moving things as

well, or facilitating the diffusion process. This would be the job
of a special type of protein called channel proteins. Channel - -
-
proteins can act as tunnels for the transport of materials in and

out of the cell through diffusion. This process is facilitated
diffusion.
What happens if a substance needs assistance to move across or through the plasma
membrane? Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion of solutes through transport proteins in the plasma
membrane. Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport. Even though facilitated diffusion involves
transport proteins, it is still passive transport because the solute is moving down the concentration
gradient.
Small nonpolar molecules can easily diffuse across the cell membrane. However, due to the
hydrophobic nature of the lipids that make up cell membranes, polar molecules and ions cannot do so.
Instead, they diffuse across the membrane through transport proteins. A transport protein completely
spans the membrane and allows certain molecules or ions to diffuse across the membrane. Channel
proteins, gated channel proteins, and carrier proteins are three types of transport proteins that are
involved in facilitated diffusion.
Types of Transport Proteins
i. Channel protein is a type of transport protein, acts like a pore in the membrane that lets water
molecules or small ions through quickly. Water channel proteins (aquaporins) allow water to
diffuse across the membrane at a very fast rate. Ion channel proteins allow ions to diffuse across
the membrane.
ii. A gated channel protein is a transport protein that opens a "gate," allowing a molecule to pass
through the membrane. Gated channels have a binding site that is specific for a given molecule
or ion. A stimulus causes the "gate" to open or shut. The stimulus may be chemical or electrical
signals, temperature, or mechanical force, depending on the type of gated channel. For example,
the sodium gated channels of a nerve cell are stimulated by a chemical signal which causes
them to open and allow sodium ions into the cell. Glucose molecules are too big to diffuse through
the plasma membrane easily, so they are moved across the membrane through gated channels.
In this way, glucose diffuses very quickly across a cell membrane, which is important because
many cells depend on glucose for energy.
iii. A carrier protein is a transport protein that is specific for an ion, molecule, or group of substances.
Carrier proteins "carry" the ion or molecule across the membrane by changing shape after the
binding of the ion or molecule. Carrier proteins are involved in passive and active transport.

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iv. Ion Channels. Ions such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-), are
important for many cell functions. Because they are charged (polar), these ions do not diffuse
through the membrane. Instead they move through ion channel proteins where they are protected
from the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. Ion channels allow the formation of a
concentration gradient between the extracellular fluid and the cytosol. Ion channels are very
specific, as they allow only certain ions through the cell membrane. Some ion channels are
always open, others are "gated" and can be opened or closed. Gated ion channels can open or
close in response to different types of stimuli, such as electrical or chemical signals.
B. Active Transport. Active

transport involves the
movement of materials against
a concentration gradient (low
concentration to high
concentration). Because
materials are moving against
the gradient, it requires the
expenditure of energy (e.g. ATP
hydrolysis). Examples include
the kidney cells pumping
glucose and amino acids out of
the urine and back into the
blood; intestinal cells pumping in
nutrients from the gut; root cells
pumping in nutrients from the
soil; and gill cells in fish pumping out sodium ions.
The Carrier Proteins or Protein Pumps are an important membrane adaption for active transport
is the presence of specific carrier proteins or pumps to facilitate active transport.
As an example of active transport, imagine moving against a river current. This will require energy
expenditure. You need to exert force on the paddle (or to “pump” on the paddle) in order to move uphill
and oppose the flow.
Similarly, to move substances against the membrane’s electro-chemical gradient (that is from
low concentration to a higher concentration) the cell utilizes active transport, which requires energy from
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Carrier proteins uses ATP to “pump” out molecules against the
16
Active transport is the energy-requiring process of pumping molecules and ions across
membranes "uphill" - against a concentration gradient. To move these molecules against their
concentration gradient, a carrier protein is needed. Carrier proteins can work with a concentration
gradient (during passive transport), but some carrier proteins can move solutes against the concentration
gradient (from low concentration to high concentration), with an input of energy. In active transport, as
carrier proteins are used to move materials against their concentration gradient, these proteins are known
as pumps. An example of active transport system, as shown in the figure below, is the sodium-potassium
pump, which exchanges sodium ions for potassium ions across the plasma membrane of animal cells.
We have discussed simple concentration gradients - differential concentrations of a substance

across a space or a membrane but in living systems, electrochemical gradients are more complex.
Because ions move into and out of cells and because cells contain proteins that do not move across the
membrane and are mostly negatively charged, there is also an electrical gradient, a difference of charge,
across the plasma membrane. The interior of living cells is electrically negative with respect to the
extracellular fluid in which they are bathed, and at the same time, cells have higher concentrations of
potassium (K+) and lower concentrations of sodium (Na+) than does the extracellular fluid.
So, in a living cell, the concentration

gradient of Na+ tends to drive it into the cell,
and the electrical gradient of Na+ (a positive
ion) also tends to drive it inward to the
negatively charged interior. The situation is
more complex, however, for other elements
such as potassium. The electrical gradient of
K+, a positive ion, also tends to drive it into
the cell, but the concentration gradient of K+
tends to drive K+ out of the cell. The
combined gradient of concentration and
electrical charge that affects an ion is called
its electrochemical gradient.
1. Bulk transport. Like the active

transport processes that move ions and small molecules via carrier proteins, bulk transport is an energy-
requiring (and, in fact, energy-intensive) process, hence it is a type of active transport. The movement of
macromolecules such as proteins or polysaccharides into or out of the cell. This allows the release of
energy from ATP and causes the protein complex to change shape and the change in shape allow the
Na+ and K+ ions to move across and be released.
Imagine this. A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries a bulk of goods and materials
stored in large containers that a small sea vessel cannot do. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's
seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of import and export trades in and out of a country.
In the previous activities, we have talked about ways that ions, small molecules and essential
minerals like potassium and sodium enter and exit the cell via channels and transporters. Channels and
carrier proteins are great for letting specific small molecules cross the membrane, but they are too small
(and too picky about what they transport) to let a cell take up something extra big like an entire bacterium.
Similar to the sea transport setting wherein big cargo ships do the job of carrying bulky loads, there
are also transport mechanisms in the cell that are capable of handling the movements of “bulky” materials

17
in the form large particles (or large quantities of smaller particles) that are moved across the cell
membrane. We call this as the bulk transport mechanisms.
In primary active transport, energy from the hydrolysis of ATP is used to move ions into or out of
cells against their concentration gradients. The sodium-potassium pump is an important example.
The primary active transport that functions with the active transport of sodium and potassium allows
secondary active transport to occur. The second transport method is still considered active because it
depends on the use of energy as does primary transport.
One of the most important pumps in animals’ cells is the sodium-potassium pump (Na+-K+ ATPase),
which maintains the electrochemical gradient (and the correct concentrations of Na+ and K+) in living cells.
The sodium-potassium pump moves K+ into the cell while moving Na+ out at the same time, at a ratio of
three Na+ for every two K+ ions moved in. The Na+-K+ ATPase exists in two forms, depending on its
orientation to the interior or exterior of the cell and its affinity for either sodium or potassium ions. The
process consists of the following six steps.
a. With the enzyme oriented towards the interior of the cell, the carrier has a high affinity for
sodium ions. Three ions bind to the protein.
b. ATP is hydrolyzed by the protein carrier and a low-energy phosphate group attaches to it.
c. As a result, the carrier changes shape and re-orients itself towards the exterior of the
membrane. The protein’s affinity for sodium decreases and the three sodium ions leave the
carrier.
d. The shape
change
increases the
carrier’s affinity
for potassium
ions, and two
such ions attach
to the protein.
Subsequently,
the low-energy
phosphate group
detaches from
the carrier.
e. With the
phosphate group
removed and potassium ions attached, the carrier protein repositions itself towards the
interior of the cell.
f. The carrier protein, in its new configuration, has a decreased affinity for potassium, and the
two ions are released into the cytoplasm. The protein now has a higher affinity for sodium
ions, and the process starts again.
Several things have happened as a result of this process. At this point, there are more sodium ions
outside of the cell than inside and more potassium ions inside than out. For every three ions of sodium
that move out, two ions of potassium move in. This results in the interior being slightly more negative
relative to the exterior. This difference in charge is important in creating the conditions necessary for the
secondary process. The sodium-potassium pump is, therefore, an electrogenic pump (a pump that
creates a charge imbalance), creating an electrical imbalance across the membrane and contributing to
the membrane potential.
18
Secondary active transport couples the passive movement of one substance with its
concentration gradient to the movement of another substance against its concentration gradient. Energy
from ATP is used indirectly to establish the concentration gradient that results in the movement of the
first substance.
Secondary active transport brings sodium ions, and possibly other compounds, into the cell. As
sodium ion concentrations build outside of the plasma membrane because of the action of the primary
active transport process, an electrochemical gradient is created. If a channel protein exists and is open,
the sodium ions will be pulled through the membrane. This movement is used to transport other
substances that can attach themselves to the transport protein through the membrane. Many amino
acids, as well as glucose, enter a cell this way. This secondary process is also used to store high-energy
hydrogen ions in the mitochondria of plant and animal cells for the production of ATP. The potential
energy that accumulates in the stored hydrogen ions is translated into kinetic energy as the ions surge
through the channel protein ATP synthase, and that energy is used to convert ADP into ATP.
Key Points of Secondary

Active Transport
• The electrical and
concentration
gradients of a
membrane tend to
drive sodium into and
potassium out of the
cell, and active
transport works
against these
gradients.
• To move substances
against a
concentration or electrochemical gradient, the cell must utilize energy in the form of ATP during
active transport.
• Primary active transport, which is directly dependent on ATP, moves ions across a membrane
and creates a difference in charge across that membrane.
• Secondary active transport, created by primary active transport, is the transport of a solute in the
direction of its electrochemical gradient and does not directly require ATP.
• Carrier proteins such as uniporters, symporters, and antiporters perform primary active transport
and facilitate the movement of solutes across the cell’s membrane.
Two main types of bulk transport
i. Endocytosis. Endocytosis is a
cellular mechanism where a cell
internalizes substances from the
external environment. These
substances undergo certain
processes of breaking down to
smaller elements either for use by
the cell or for elimination purposes.
Endocytosis (endo = internal,
cytosis = transport mechanism) is

19
a general term for the various types of active transport that move particles into a cell by
enclosing them in a vesicle made out of plasma membrane.
There are variations of endocytosis, but all follow the same basic process. First, the plasma
membrane of the cell invaginates (folds inward), forming a pocket around the target particle
or particles. The pocket then pinches off with the help of specialized proteins, leaving the
particle trapped in a newly created vesicle or vacuole inside the cell.
Types of Endocytosis
a. Phagocytosis. Phagocytosis, also known as cell eating, is the process by which cells
internalize large particles or cells, like damaged cells and bacteria.
Within the human body, and in other mammals, phagocytosis is how immune cells engulf
and destroy dangerous microorganisms or toxic compounds. Macrophages and
neutrophils, types of white blood cells, are the two primary phagocytes. These white
blood cells are responsible for clearing out aged and damaged cells, as well as disposing
of infectious microorganisms.
b. Pinocytosis. Pinocytosis, also known as cell drinking, is common in plant and animal
cells. During pinocytosis, the cell takes in substances from the extracellular fluid that it
needs to function. These include things like water and nutrients. Pinocytosed material
is held in small vesicles, much smaller than the large food vacuole produced by
phagocytosis.
c. Receptor-mediated endocytosis. Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a form of
endocytosis in which receptor proteins on the cell surface are used to capture a specific
target molecule. The receptors, which are transmembrane proteins, cluster in regions
of the plasma membrane known as coated pits. This name comes from a layer of
proteins, called coat proteins, that are found on the cytoplasmic side of the pit. When the
receptors bind to their specific target molecule, endocytosis is triggered, and the
receptors and their attached molecules are taken into the cell in a vesicle. The coat
proteins participate in this process by giving the vesicle its rounded shape and helping it
bud off from the membrane.
ii. Exocytosis. Exocytosis is a process that is used to transport materials from inside the cell
to the external part of the cell using energy. The mechanism uses special vesicles filled with
the particles of interest to transport Generally, in this mechanism of exocytosis, a special

20
vesicle bound to the cell membrane, containing the cellular particles will expel the cell content
to the external part of the cell.
Cells must take in certain molecules, such as nutrients, but they also need to release other
molecules, such as signaling proteins and waste products, to the outside environment.
Exocytosis (exo = external, cytosis = transport mechanism) is a form of bulk transport in
which materials are transported from the inside to the outside of the cell in membrane-bound
vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane. Exocytosis is much like endocytosis in
reverse. Material destined for export is packaged into a vesicle inside the cell. The
membrane of the vesicle fuses with the cell membrane, and the contents are released into
the extracellular space.
Some of these vesicles come from the Golgi apparatus and contain proteins made
specifically by the cell for release outside, such as signaling molecules. Other vesicles
contain wastes that the cell needs to dispose of, such as the leftovers that remain after a
phagocytosed particle has been digested.
Difference between Endocytosis and Exocytosis
Endocytosis refers to the

Exocytosis refers to the
transportation of
transportation of
macromolecules, large
molecules or particles from
Definition particles, and polar
the cell to the
substances into the cell
outside of the cell
from the external
environment
Involved with up taking Involved in removing waste

Process
nutrients into the cell from the cell
Occurs by both Occurs by constitutive and

Type phagocytosis and regulated secretory
pinocytosis pathway
Internal vesicles like Secretory vesicles are

Vesicle
phagosomes are formed formed
Cell Wall
Not involved Involved
Formation
Releasing of hormones out
Engulfing bacteria by
Example of the cell is an
phagocytes is an example
example
WRAP- UP
• The cell membrane is selectively permeable, allowing only certain substances to pass through.
• Cell transport may require assistance by a protein/pump.
• Cell transport may require energy.
• Some transport involves vesicles.

21
• Cell transport can be classified as follows:

➢ Passive Transport which includes
✓ Simple
✓ Diffusion
✓ Osmosis
✓ Facilitated Diffusion
• Active Transport can involve either a pump or a vesicle
• Pump Transport can be
➢ Primary
➢ secondary
• Vesicle Transport can involve
➢ Exocytosis
➢ Endocytosis which includes Pinocytosis, Phagocytosis and Receptor-Mediated
VALUING
Membrane transport is essential for cellular life. As cells proceed through their life cycle, a vast
amount of exchange is necessary to maintain function. Transport may involve the incorporation of
biological molecules and the discharge of waste products that are necessary for normal function.
Membrane transport is dependent upon the permeability of the membrane, transmembrane

solute concentration, and the size and charge of the solute. Solute particles can traverse the membrane
via three mechanisms: passive, facilitated, and active transport. Some of these transport mechanisms
require the input of energy and use of a transmembrane protein, whereas other mechanisms do not
incorporate secondary molecules.
POST-ASSESSMENT
A. Enrichment Activities
1. Directions. Think of a matter or object that can be likened to a cell membrane. List at least 3 then
explain why is it alike to a cell membrane.
2. Look for two partners and use any materials available in your area, where you can create a
simple model of the cell/plasma membrane. You can search the internet or use the pictures found
in this material to accomplish the task. Your work shall be graded according to accuracy,
neatness and organization and creativity.
3. Osmosis Experiment Directions: Perform the activity by following the stated procedures.
a. Prepare the following materials: Tuber of yam (or potato), 2 transparent glass of the same
size, spoon, salt, toothpick
b. Cut and peel off the yam.
c. Cut the yam into two and make a cavity in them using the spoon. Label the yams A and B.

22
d. Stand the pieces of yam inside the glass that contain water respectively. Make sure the water
in both glasses will not fill up the cavity inside the yams.
e. Pour water in the cavity of yam A making it half full.

f. Prepare a salt solution then pour it in the cavity of yam B making it half full.
How to prepare a salt solution?
• Boil 1, 000 mL (4 cups) of water. Let it cool under room temperature until it is warm.
• Add two teaspoon of table salt to the container with warm water.
• Mix until the salt is dissolved.
g. Mark the water level inside the cavities of the two set-up using a toothpick.
h. Leave the set-up for 4 hours then observe.
Guide Questions:
1. What did you observe in the water level inside the cavity of yam A?
2. What did you observe in the water level inside the cavity of yam B? Explain your observation.
3. What type solution is present in the set-up of yam B? Explain your answer.
4.

23
Note: Activities #1 and #2 should be submitted after a week. The last two activities shall be
submitted afterwards. Your answer sheet to the Post-Test shall be submitted together with the
first two activities.
B. Post-Test. Carefully read each item. Choose the best answer and write them in your paper.
2. Which plasma membrane component can be either found on its surface or embedded in the
membrane structure?
a. protein b. cholesterol c. carbohydrate d. phospholipid
3. Carbohydrates is found outside the surface of the cell and bounded with?
a. lipid or protein b. phospholipid c. glycoprotein d. glycolipid
4. Which interacts to hydrophilic and hydrophobic environments?

a. protein b. cholesterol c. phospholipid d. carbohydrate
5. Which characteristic of a phospholipid contributes to the fluidity of the membrane?

a. its head is big c. a saturated fatty acid tail
b. it is made of cholesterol d. double bonds in the fatty acid tail
7. The primary function of the plasma membrane is …

a. to protect the cell from its surroundings c. to maintains the cell potential.
b. to provide shape and integrity to the cell d. to be a fluid mosaic model
8. It is vital for cellular signaling processes that influence tissue and organ formation.
a. membrane markers c. glycoprotein
b. membrane receptors d. glycolipid
9. Cellular Transport Mechanism’s relation to the Plasma Membrane is…

b. to transport materials into or out of the cell
c. to enclose and define the borders of the cell
d. to transmit signals via complex proteins
10. Cellular Signaling’s relation to the Plasma Membrane is…

b. to enclose and define the borders of the cell
c. to transmit signals via complex proteins
d. to transport materials into or out of the cell

24
11. Hydrocarbons dissolve in the lipid bilayer, except for…

a. Hydrophilic b. hydrophobic c. non-polar d. polar
12. Which is not a part of the transport mechanisms in cells?

a. facilitated transport b. active transport c. osmosis d. exocytosis
13. What is the most direct form of transport mechanisms in cells?

a. passive b. active c. osmosis d. exocytosis
14. It enables water molecules move from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration.
a. facilitated b. active c. osmosis d. diffusion
15. It moves molecules from high to low regions of concentration with the transmembrane protein.
a. facilitated b. active c. osmosis d. diffusion
16. All are attributes of exocytosis except for…

a. Involved with up taking nutrients into the cell
b. Secretory vesicles are formed
c. Involved in removing waste from the cell
d. Uninvolved in cell wall formation
17. A solution wherein water inside the cell equals the water outside the cell and equal amounts of
water move in and out of the cell.
a. Osmotic b. Hypertonic c. Hypotonic d. Isotonic
18. It is the transport mechanism used in ATP.

a. facilitated b. active c. osmosis d. exocytosis
19. Engulfment involves what transport mechanism?

a. passive b. active c. endocytosis d. exocytosis
20. Waste removal involves what transport mechanism?

a. passive b. active c. endocytosis d. exocytosis

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1

PERFORMANCE TASK IN GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

21ST CENTURY SKILLS CORE VALUE TASK

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

SCORING RUBRIC FOR THE PERFORMANCE TASK

After going through this module, you are expected to:

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Note: This module is good for two weeks.

3. The relationship of cellular transport mechanism to the plasma membrane is to __?

4. What is the most direct form of transport mechanisms in cells?

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF THE CELL MEMBRANE

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Structural Component of Cellular Membrane

Key Takes of the Fluid Nature of the CM:

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Lateral movement occurs 107 Flip-flopping across the membrane is

Movement of phospholipids within the bilayer

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Unsaturated hydrocarbon tails Saturated hydrocarbon tails

(a) Unsaturated versus

(b) Cholesterol within the

Fluidity of cell membrane in saturated and unsaturated fats

Cell Membrane Lipids

Cell Membrane Proteins

a. Structural proteins help to give the cell support and shape.

COMPONENT LOCATION FEATURE/FUNCTION

RELATIONSHIP OF THE STRUCTURE & COMPOSITION OF THE CELL MEMBRANE TO ITS

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

CELL TRANSPORT MECHANISMS

Cell transport refers to the

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Key Takes of the Permeability of the Lipid Bilayer

Types of Cell Transport

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

1. Simple diffusion is the movement of

Rivers flow from a higher elevation to

River currents are comparable to

Factors That Affect Diffusion

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

molecules from one area to another. This lack

i. Extent of the concentration gradient:

2. Osmosis is the movement of water

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

A cell that does not have a rigid

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

3. Facilitated transport or facilitated diffusion is the movement of large or charged molecules

Take as an example of facilitated transport the act of

In like manner, cells need help in moving things as

proteins can act as tunnels for the transport of materials in and

Types of Transport Proteins

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

B. Active Transport. Active

We have discussed simple concentration gradients - differential concentrations of a substance

So, in a living cell, the concentration

1. Bulk transport. Like the active

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Key Points of Secondary

Two main types of bulk transport

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

STEM General Biology 1 Q1 Module 4 SY 2022-2023

Difference between Endocytosis and Exocytosis

Endocytosis refers to the

Involved with up taking Involved in removing waste

Occurs by both Occurs by constitutive and