TRANSPORT ACROSS

MEMBRANE
 the various organelles and structures within a cell require a variety of substance in
order to carry out their functions. In turn, they form products, some useful and some
not. Most of these substances must pass in and out of the cell
 the movement of substances in and out of a cell through cell membrane is termed
as transport across the membrane. Although the thickness of the cell membrane is
only 5-10 nm, it is physical barrier to the movement of ions and molecules.
PROCESS ENERGY SOURCE
Passive process
• Physical processes
• Rate dependent on kinetic and concentration gradient of the diffusing particles
a. Simple diffusion Kinetic energy due to random
molecular motion of the
diffusing particles
b. Osmosis Kinetic energy due to random
molecular motion of water
molecules
DESCRIPTION
Net movement of particles
(molecules or ions) from a
region of greater
concentration to a region of
lower concentration, that is,
down the concentration
movement
Simple diffusion of water
molecules from a region of
higher water potential to a
region of lower water
potential through a selectively
permeable membrane
EXAMPLES
Movement of fats, oxygen,
carbon dioxide through the
lipid portion of the membrane
and ions through protein
channels under certain
conditions
Movement of water into and
out of cells via membrane
pores
PROCESS
C. Facilitated diffusion
Active process
• Physiological proceses
• cellular energy in the form of ATP is used
a. Active transport
( solute pumping)
ENERGY SOURCE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
Kinetic energy due to random Carrier protein in cell Movement of glucose into
molecular motion of diffusing membranes accelerates cells
particles movement of substance down
the concentration gradient.
Apart from concentration
gradient, the rate of facilitated
diffusion is also limited by the
number of carrier proteins
available in the cell membrane
ATP Membrane carrier proteins in • Pumping of sodium ions
cell membrane transport ions out of the cell against
or molecules through the concentration gradient
membrane against a • movement of amino acids
concentration gradient. Cells and most ions across the
that perform a lot of active membrane
transport are likely to have
many mitochondria to provide
the energy for the process
PROCESS ENERGY SOURCE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLES
B. Bulk transport ATP Movement of large quantities
of material into or out of cells

(i) Exocytosis secretion or ejection of • Secretion of digestive

substances from a cell. The enzymes by pancreas,
substance to be ejected is secretion of
enclosed in a membranous neurotransmitters hormones
vesicles, which then fuses with and mucus
the plasma membrane and • ejection of cell waste
ruptures , releasing the
substance to the exterior
(ii) Endocytosis ATP
Cell eating. A large external White blood cells (neutrophil
* Phagocytosis particles (protein, bacteria, and macrophages) ingest
dead cell debris) is surrounded invading bacteria
by a part of the cell membrane
of the ingesting cell
(phagocyte); the encircled
particle becomes enclosed in a
membranous sac which is
called a food vacuole
PROCESS ENERGY SOURCE DESCRIPTION
• Pinocytosis ATP “cell drinking” or bulk intake
of liquid. Part of the plasma
membrane encloses and
external fluid droplet
containing small solutes,
forming a fluid-filled vesicles
EXAMPLES
• Occurs in most cell to take
in needed solutes dissolved
in tissue fluid.
• Reabsorption of protein
by proximal tubules in
nephrons of kidney
 HYPOTONIC, HYPERTONIC
AND ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS
 The term hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic can be used when comparing solutions of different
concentrations. The greater the solute concentration, the lower the water potential as solutes restrict
the free movement of water molecules
 ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS- solutions that contain equal numbers of solutes particles will have
equal water potential
 HYPOTONIC SOLUTIONS- a solution that contains less solute and therefore has a higher water
potential
 HYPERTONIC SOLUTIONS- a solution that has more solute and a lower water potential
TONICITY OF SOLUTIONS,
WATER POTENTIAL AND
DIRECTION OF NET WATER
MOVEMENT
CONCENTRATI CONCENTRATI
ON OF SOLUTE ON OF SOLUTE TONICITY WATER DIRECTION OF
IN SOLUTION A IN SOLUTION B POTENTIAL NET
MOVEMENT OF
WATER
MORE LESS A hypertonic to B B is higher than A From B to A
B hypotonic to A
LESS MORE B hypertonic to A A is higher than B From A to B
A hypotonic to B
SAME SAME A AND B ARE SAME No net movement
ISOTONIC of water molecules
in either direction
ANIMAL CELL AND OSMOSIS
 most unicellular organism that live in fresh water have to overcome the problem of
water diffusing into the cell through osmosis because the cytoplasm of such cells (ex
paramecium) is much more hypertonic than the water in its surrounding environment
 when excess water enters a cell, it will dilute the contents of the cell to such an
extent that the normal activities of the cell will be disrupted. Finally, it results in the
rupture of the cell membrane since animal cells do not have a cell wall
 for paramecium, its cell membrane is prevented from rupturing by the presence of
CONTRACTILE VACUOLES. This organelles collect water from various parts of the
cell and then pumps the water out of the cell through rhythmic contactions, thus
keeping volume of the cell constant
BEHAVIOR OF AN
ERYTHROCYTES IN
HETEROTONIC SOLUTIONS
Plasmolysis in a leaf epidermal cell

a. under normal conditions, the protoplasm fills the space within the cell walls
b. when the cell is placed in a relatively strong sucrose solution, water passes out of
the cell into the hypertonic medium and the plasma membrane contracts slightly
c. when immersed in a stronger ( more concentrated ) solution, the cell loses even
larger amounts of water and contracts still further.