Classroom practice IV.
Transport across membranes
Classroom practice IV: Transport across a
cell membrane
Quantitative exercises about
TRANSPORT across a cell membrane
Answer key is provided at the end of the questionnaire
1. The gastric juice has got a pH of 1. However, cells
from the gastric mucosa have got an internal pH of 7.
Calculate the ∆G’ for the transport of H+ ions against
this concentration gradient. Ignore the membrane
potential.
2. How many Na+ ions would a cell pump out to the
extracellular space per ATP molecule hydrolyzed, by
a Na pump, independent to K+, assuming the
+
concentrations of Na+ ions are 140 mM and 10 mM in
the extracellular and in the intracellular space,
respectively? ΔG' for the hydrolysis of ATP under
intracellular conditions is -41.8 kJ/mol. Ignore the
membrane potential.
3. The pumping out of Na+ to the extracellular space is
performed by a Na+ pump, independent to K+, being
the ∆G’ for the hydrolysis of ATP –41.8 kJ/mol. The
concentration of Na+ in the intracellular and the
extracellular space are, respectively, 10 mM and
140 mM and the membrane potential, Ψm = -50 mV
(negative inside the cell), calculate:
a) The electrochemical potential for Na (ΔµNa+).
+
b) ∆G' for the transport out of the cell of 3 mol of Na+.
4. Calculate ∆G' for the transport by a Na /K pump in
+ +
the erythrocytes, knowing that, per mol of ATP
hydrolyzed, 3 mol of Na+ are transported to the
exterior of the cell and 2 mol of K+ to the interior of
the cell. Concentrations: [Na+]int = 10 mM; [Na+]ext =
140 mM; [K+]int = 120 mM; [K+]ext = 15 mM; ∆G’
for the hydrolysis of ATP = –41.8 kJ/mol, membrane
potential (Ψm)= -50 mV (negative inside).
5. Calculate ∆G' for the following reaction:
ATP + Ca2+ (int) -------> ADP + Pi + Ca2+ (ext)
performed by a electrogenic calcium pump, knowing
that: ∆G' for the hydrolysis of ATP under cellular
conditions = -41.8 kJ/mol; [Ca2+ ]int = 10-7 M; [Ca2+]ext
= 10-3 M; membrane potential (Ψm) = -60 mV
(negative inside).
6. Calculate ∆G’ for the transport of Ca2+ to the
exterior of the cell performed by an electroneutral
symport with a Pi2- molecule. The concentrations in
this process are:
[Ca2+]int = 10 7 M; [Ca2+]ext = 10-3 M; [Pi2-]int =30 mM
- conditions is –41.8 kJ/mol, calculate the energetic cost
and [Pi2-]ext=10 mM. ∆G’ for the hydrolysis of ATP
Biochemistry. Degree in Veterinary Medicine
1
is –41.8 kJ/mol and the membrane potential= 60 mV
(negative inside).
7. Calculate the free energy change, under cellular
conditions, for a process of transport (electroneutral
antiporter) by a pump, where the pumping out of Ca2+
from the cytoplasm is coupled to the pumping in of
one Mg2+ ion. The concentrations of the components
implicated in the process are:
Ion Interior Exterior
6 mM 2 mM
Ca2+
Mg2+ 10 mM 10 mM
-4
∆G’o = –30.5 kJ/mol being the cellular concentration
for Pi = 0.02M and [ATP]/[ADP] = 10. Membrane
potential= –60 mV (negative inside).
8. The mechanisms for cellular transport across a
plasmatic membrane can be summarized as follows:
X int + Na ext ------> X ext + Na int
o + o +
X in the interior is 10 times lower than the one in the
o
exterior; Na concentration in the exterior is 10 times
+
higher than the one in the interior and the membrane
potential is -0.1 V (negative inside).
a) What type of transport would be this system
from a mechanistic and energetic point of view?
b) Calculate ∆G' for this process
9. The following reaction corresponds to the process
carried out by a system located at the plasmatic
membrane:
Glucose ext + Na+ ext --------> Glucose int + Na+ int
The concentration of glucose in the inner space of the
cell is 10 times higher than the one in the exterior and
extracellular Na concentration is 20 times higher than
+
the one in the intracellular space; membrane potential
=-50 mV (negative inside).
a) Indicate what type of transport it is from the
mechanism and the bioenergetics of the process.
b) Calculate ∆G' for this process.
10. The following equation represents the mechanism
of glutamate absorption by the plasmatic membrane of
a intestinal epithelium cell:
Glu (ext) + Na (ext) -------> Glu (int) + Na (int)
- + - +
Extracellular concentrations are: [Glu-] = 0.5 mM and
[Na+] = 40 mM, intracellular are: [Glu-] = 0.2 mM and
[Na+] = 2 mM; membrane potential = -50 mV
(negative inside).
a) Indicate what type of transport it is from a
mechanistic and bioenergetics point of view.
b) Calculate the electrochemical potential for sodium
(∆µNa).
c) Calculate ∆G' for this process.
11. A pump located in the endoplasmic reticulum
membrane is able to keep the concentration of Ca in 2+
the cytosol 10,000 times lower than the one inside the
endoplasmic reticulum lumen. If ∆G’ under cellular
for pumping 1 mol of Ca from the cytosol to the
2+
Classroom practice IV. Transport across membranes 2

interior of the reticulum. Membrane potential is equal

to –60 mV (negative in the cytosol). SOLUCIONES A LOS PROBLEMAS
12. a) Calculate ∆G’ for the process of transport 1. 34.2 kJ/mol
out Ca throught the endoplasmic reticulum conduct
2+

2. 6 Na ions.
+

when this opens by the union of IP3. 3. a) +11.36 kJ/mol; b) -7.72 kJ/mol.
b) Calculate ∆µCa , in V, across the
2+

4. -7.22 kJ/mol.
endoplasmic reticulum membrane to the outside. 5. -7.42 kJ/mol.
c) Calculate ∆G’ for the process catalyzed by 6. –21.72 kJ/mol.
the Calcium pump of the endoplasmic reticulum. 7. –20.36 kJ/mol.
Data: [Ca ] cytosol = 0.1 µM (ext)
2+

8. a) antiporter active secondary

[Ca ]lumen = 1 mM (int)
2+

electrophoretic; b) -9.65 kJ/mol.

∆ψ = -0.05V (negative outside)
ATP/ADP = 10; [Pi] = 25 mM
∆G’o ATP hydrolysis= -30.5 kJ/mol
9. a) symport active secondary electrophoretic;
b) -6.54 kJ/mol.
10. a) symport active secondary electroneutral;
b) -12.24 kJ/mol. c) -9.69 kJ/mol
11. –7.42 kJ/mol
12. a) -32.45kJ/mol; b) 336 mV; c) –12.88
kJ/mol

TRANSPORT ACROSS MEMBRANES:

NO CHARGED/ CONCENTRATION
GRADIENT:

[C2 ]
ΔG = 2,3RTlog
(1→2) [C1]

CHARGED/ CONCENTRATRION GRADIENT:

[C2 ]
ΔG = 2,3RTlog +Fm ΔΨ
(1→2) [C1] (Ψ2 − Ψ1 )

m = ion charge (with the sign of the number)

F = Faraday constant= 96.5 kJ/mol
ΔΨ = membrane potential (V)
R= 8,31 J K-1 mol -1

Biochemistry. Degree in Veterinary Medicine