Chapter 3:

Movement of Substances
Across the
Plasma Membrane

MH YAP 2020
 Structure of Plasma Membrane
Fluid Mosaic Model
§ The Fluid Mosaic Model of plasma membrane was proposed by S.J Singer and G.L.
Nicholson.
Cholesterol: Makes plasma membrane more flexibe, stable, Glycoprotein: Protein with carbohydrate attached to it.
stronger and less permeable to water soluble substances. Glycolipid: Protein with lipid attached to it.
Phospholipid: Arranged in a double layer
to act as a barrier to separate two
aqueous environment.
Consists of :
1. Polar head that is hydrophilic.
(attracted to water)
2. Non polar tail that is hydrophobic.
(repelled by water)

Carrier protein: Act as carriers, specific Pore protein: Forms pore and allow small
and attached to the active site. molecules to pass through.
Permeability of a plasma membrane
§ Plasma membrane is semi permeable or partially permeable or
selectively permeable.

§ Other example of semi permeable membranes: Visking tubing, egg

membrane.

§ The size, ionic charge and polarity of molecules determine the

movement of molecules across the plasma membrane.
 Movement of substances across plasma membrane

Macromolecules: Glucose, amino acid

are transported through carrier protein by facilitated
diffusion.

Charged molecules: ions

are transported through carrier protein by active
transport.

Lipid-soluble substances, Charged molecules: ions

oxygen, carbon dioxide are transported through
are transported through channel protein by
phospholipid bilayer by facilitated diffusion.
simple diffusion.
Water molecules
Water molecules are transported through
are transported through pore protein by osmosis.
phospholipid bilayer by
osmosis.
Movement of substances across plasma membrane
Types of transport
1. Passive transport
v Substances move down the concentration gradient, that is, from a region of
high concentration to a region of low concentration across the plasma
membrane.
v No energy is used.
(i)
• Movement of molecules or ions down the concentration
gradient until equilibrium is achieved.
• Example: Gaseous exchange between
alveoli and blood capillaries
Movement of substances across plasma membrane
Types of transport Carrier proteins have specific binding sites
where specific molecules can attach and be
transported in or out of the cell at a faster rate.
1. Passive transport
(ii)
• Movement of molecules or ions down the concentration
gradient with the help of carrier protein and channel
protein until equilibrium is achieved.
• Example: Movement of digested products such as
glucose and amino acids across the
epithelial lining of villi in the small
intestines and the wall of blood capillary.

Channel protein is always
open and has a specific
pathway that only allow
specific ions to pass through.
(a) Glucose moves towards the specific sites of
carrier protein.
(b) Glucose binds to the specific binding site of
the carrier protein.
(c) The carrier protein changes its shape and
transports the glucose across the membrane.
(d) The carrier protein resumes its original shape
and it is free to bind with other glucose molecule.
Movement of substances across plasma membrane
Types of transport
1. Passive transport
(iii)
• Movement of water molecules down the water potential
gradient across a semi permeable membrane until
equilibrium is achieved.
• A solution with many water molecules (dilute) has a
high water potential (low solutes concentration).
• A solution with a few water molecules (concentrated)
has a low water potential (high solutes concentration).

• Example: Absorption of water molecules by root

hair cells.
Movement of substances across plasma membrane
Types of transport
2. Active transport
v Molecules or ions move against the concentration gradient, that is, from
a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration across the
plasma membrane through carrier proteins.
v Energy is used.
v Example: Absorption of mineral ions from soil by root hair cells.

Sodium-potassium pump in kidneys and nerves.

Accumulation or elimination of substances in sea water organisms.
Movement of substances across plasma membrane
Types of transport
2. Active transport Mechanism of sodium-potassium pump

The concentration of sodium The carrier protein binds the sodium Energy from the ATP changes the
ions is higher on the outside of the ions and ATP molecule at different shape of the carrier protein.
cell. sites.

The sodium ions approach the carrier The ATP molecule is split into ADP Sodium ions pass through the carrier
protein. and phosphate, releases energy. protein to the outside of the cell.
Comparison between passive transport and active transport
Similarity: Both processes transport substances across the plasma membrane.

Differences:

Passive transport Active transport

Energy is not required. Requires energy.
Occurs down a concentration gradient. Occurs against a concentration gradient.
Occurs until a dynamic equilibrium is achieved. Accumulation of elimination of molecules or ions occurs
Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane in
Living Organisms
Types of solutions based on their solute concentrations
1. Isotonic
v Contains the same concentration of solute as another solution.

Solution P and Q have the same

concentration of solutes.

Solutions P and Q are isotonic

to each other.

No net movement of water.

Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane in
Living Organisms
Types of solutions based on their solute concentrations
2. Hypotonic
v Contains a lower concentration of solute relative to another solution.

Solution P has low concentration of

solutes and high water potential.

Solution P is hypotonic to solution Q.

Water diffuses from solution P to

solution Q by osmosis.
Movement of Substances Across a Plasma Membrane in
Living Organisms
Types of solutions based on their solute concentrations
3. Hypertonic
v Contains a higher concentration of solute relative to another solution.

Solution P has high concentration of

solutes and low water potential.

Solution P is hypertonic to solution Q.

Water diffuses from solution Q to

solution P by osmosis.
The effects of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions
on animal cells.
Hypotonic solution
When the red blood cell is
immersed in a hypotonic solution,
water diffuses into the cell by
osmosis.
The cell expands.
The plasma membrane bursts.
Haemolysis occurs.
Isotonic solution
When the red blood cell is
immersed in an isotonic solution,
water diffuses out and into the cell
at the same rate by osmosis.
The cell retains its normal shape.
Hypertonic solution
When the red blood cell is
immersed in a hypertonic
solution, water diffuses out of
the cell by osmosis.
The cell shrinks.
Crenation occurs.
The effects of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions
on plant cells.
Hypotonic solution
When the plant cell is immersed in a
hypotonic solution, water diffuses into
the cell by osmosis.
The vacuole expands.
The plasma membrane pushes
towards the cell wall.
The cell becomes turgid.
Isotonic solution
When the plant cell is immersed in an
isotonic solution, water diffuses out
and into the cell at the same rate by
osmosis.
The cell retains its normal shape.
Hypertonic solution
When the plant cell is immersed in
a hypertonic solution, water diffuses
out of the cell by osmosis.
The vacuole and cytoplasm shrinks.
The plasma membrane pulls away
from the cell wall.
The cell becomes flaccid.
Plasmolysis occurs.
Movement of substances across a plasma membrane and
its application in daily life.
Wilting in plants
v Excessive use of fertilisers causes soil water to become hypertonic to the cell sap
of root hair cells.
v Water diffuses out from the cell sap into the soil by osmosis.
v The cells becomes plasmolysed.

Food preservation
v Salt, sugar and vinegar are used as natural preservatives.
v The high concentration of salt or sugar makes the preservative solution hypertonic to
the preserved food.
v Water diffuses out from the food cells by osmosis.
v The food becomes dehydrated, while bacteria and fungi will lose water at the same
time and eventually die.
v Vinegar which has a low pH causes the tissues of fruits or vegetables to become acidic.
v The low pH prevents the growth of microorganisms in preserved food.
v The food can last longer. .
Movement of substances across a plasma membrane and
its application in daily life.
1. Rehydration drinks
§ Oral rehydration salts help to recover loss of water and electrolytes in individual with diarrhoea.

2. Isotonic drinks
§ Athletes replace the fluids, water and electrolytes such as potassium and sodium lost from the
body through perspiration.

3. Saline solutions
§ Used in medicine, solutions that are isotonic to the blood plasma (0.85 - 0.90 g of sodium
chloride per 100 ml of water).

4. Liposomes
§ Vesicles that contain an aqueous solutiom surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer membrane.
§ Use to protect medicine taken orally from being destroyed by gastric juices. Thus, the medicine
can reach the target cells. .