Transport of Substances

Mr Ian
 Transport
Membranes control what enters and leaves a cell in a variety
of ways:
• Diffusion a) simple
b) facilitated
• Osmosis – the transport of water
• Active transport
• Cytosis
 Plasma Membranes.
• The properties of plasma membranes are
related to the passage of substances through
them. Different methods of transport allow
a variety of substances to pass through these
membranes.
Structure of Plasma Membrane.
 Diffusion
• Definition: “This is the movement of molecules or ions
from a region of their high concentration to a region of
their low concentration.”
• This process will occur wherever there is a concentration
gradient and will continue until the particles are
distributed evenly throughout the system. When a
uniform concentration is reached, equilibrium (no net
movement of particles) is established. Examples?
• Fish gills
• Alveoli
 Rate of Diffusion
• The rate of diffusion in a given direction across
the exchange surface is:
• Directly proportional to the area of the surface
• Directly proportional to the concentration
gradient
• Inversely proportional to the distance (the
length of diffusion pathway).
• This is known as FICK’S LAW and can be
summarised as;
 FRICK’S LAW

Surface Difference in
area X concentration
Rate of diffusion
is proportional to
Length of diffusion path
 Other Factors Effecting the Rate of Diffusion

• Diffusion through a cell membrane depends on the

size and type of molecule or ion diffusing through it.
• The rate of diffusion relies on the kinetic energy
possessed by molecules (or ions) which makes them
move about at random. At higher temperatures the rate
of diffusion increases since the molecules have more
kinetic energy.
 Diffusion through the cell
membrane
Hydrophobic molecules
(non-polar) • Non-polar molecules readily
diffuse through the membrane
•As they are soluble in the
non-polar phospholipid tails
 Key Points of Diffusion
• Diffusion is a passive process since it requires no energy
• Defined as the net movement of molecules from a region of
higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
• It relies on the kinetic energy possessed by molecules (or ions)
which makes them move about at random.
• The rate of diffusion relies on the “steepness” of the
concentration gradient
• It increases at higher temperatures since the molecules have more
kinetic energy
 Facilitated Diffusion
• Other larger molecules or polar molecules are not
soluble in lipids e.g ions, therefore diffusion
occurs through the plasma membrane but through
an integral channel protein embedded in the
lipid bilayer.
• Larger molecules, especially those not soluble in
lipids, need some assistance to pass through the
protein channels of the plasma membrane. The
process used by these substance is known as
Facilitated diffusion.
Facilitated Diffusion through protein channels
This is a passive movement down a concentration
gradient but involves special Carrier Proteins
Molecules. These act as pores allowing solutes to
pass through. Alternatively, they may be small
globular proteins that move in the membrane
shuttling their load back and forth, like a ferry
carrying cars. This process is selective.
Larger molecules that pass in this way include
glucose, nucleic acids and proteins. The
movement of ADP into mitochondria and the exit of
ATP also involves facilitated diffusion.
The movement of very small molecules
through the cell membrane

Water molecules may diffuse

through the membrane since they
are sufficiently small.

Since water is so small it

can fit between the spaces
in the phospholipids
 Active Transport
Cells import and export their substances by
active transport. Active transport is the
movement of substances, usually against a
concentration gradient, from a region of low
concentration to a region of high
concentration. This involves the
expenditure of energy.
The energy for active transport usually comes from
ATP, provided by respiration in the mitochondria.
Active transport also uses special molecules in the
membrane referred to as ‘pumps’. The pumps pick
up specific molecules and transports them to the
other side of the cell membrane where they are
released. The pump molecules are globular proteins
in the lipid bilayer. Most pumps are specific
molecules which make the process selective. E.g.
The uptake of nitrate ions in the roots of a plant and
in the kidney tubules and nerve fibres of animals.
Diagram of Active Transport
 How Active Transport
. works
• A molecule outside the cell binds with a carrier protein at
the membrane boundary.
• The molecule – carrier protein complex moves through the
membrane.
• Assisted by at least one enzyme and energy available from
ATP, the molecule and carrier protein separate, and the
molecule is released.
• The carrier protein returns to its original shape and can
repeat the process with another molecule.
• The carriers may move single molecules in one direction
or two molecules in either the same or opposite directions
 Other forms of Transport
Bulk transport occurs by the movement of
vesicles (tiny membrane bound sacs of
matter, either solids or liquids) across the
plasma membrane. The flexibility of the
fluid mosaic model makes this process
possible. This activity is known as
CYTOSIS.
 Endocytosis
During endocytosis, only a small region of the
plasma membrane folds inward until it has
formed a new intracellular vesicle that contains
large molecules from the outside. Types of
endocytosis include:
1) PINOCYTOSIS – this is the uptake of
extracellular fluid and any dissolved
substances such as, amino acids, glucose,
vitamins and other substances.
2) PHAGOCYTOSIS – this process allows large
particles and other cells to pass through the
plasma membrane into the cytoplasm. The most
familiar example of phagocytosis is probably
that of a white blood cell engulfing a harmful
bacterium before digesting it. The pocket
formed when the membrane encloses it is known
as a phagosome and this may be digested by
lysosomes when it enters the cell.
Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis
Exocytosis
In exocytosis,
secretory vesicles carry
the material to the cell
membrane, vesicles
coalesce with the cell
membrane allowing
their contents to pass
out of the cell.