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Lesson 7 Diffusion To Osmosis
Lesson 7 Diffusion To Osmosis
Learning Objectives 2
Warm Up 2
Key Points 9
Bibliography 12
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Lesson 4.3
Introduction
As previously discussed, there are certain molecules in cells that do not readily cross the
phospholipid bilayer due to their chemical nature. This is when a cell may need transport
proteins or to expend energy molecules to move molecules across the plasma membrane.
Most of the time, transport is important to maintain solute concentration at a particular
level. Imagine you are swimming against the flow of water. It would be too hard. Also,
imagine how hard it is for a salmon to swim upstream during spawning season. For the
case of the cell, it is also a work to do to drive the movement of molecules against the
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 1
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
concentration gradient, and there are certain reasons why there is a need for this to
happen. Just like in the previous discussions, the transport of molecules and substances is
very important for the different cellular processes to take effect. Failure of some transport
mechanisms may lead to disorders such as in cystic fibrosis. This condition, which is
brought about by the disruption of salt and water transport, is characterized by the
production of thick mucus in the lungs. This lesson will deal with the transport mechanisms
of molecules that do not readily cross the lipid bilayer, particularly through facilitated and
active transports.
Warm Up
Material
● task cards (with questions to be formulated by the teacher)
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 2
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Procedure
1. Form a group with four members each.
2. The rest of the students who are not grouped will be part of the human model for
the cellular membrane. They can organize themselves to mimic a lipid bilayer.
3. If one member of your group will be able to answer correctly the questions indicated
in the task card, that member will be able to enter the Cell Kingdom through the
student cell membrane, allowing the transfer from one side to the other.
4. The first group to complete answering the task cards given wins the game.
5. Afterward, answer the guide questions below.
Guide Questions
1. How were you able to answer the task cards correctly?
2. What are the strategies you used to overcome the challenge?
3. How would you relate the transport that you made to the other side of the
membrane to an actual molecular transport?
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 3
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
absorbed from the gut by the cells lining the digestive tract. Another example is sodium ion
that can be almost completely withdrawn from urine by cells lining the kidney tubules. In
these instances, molecules moved from a lower to a higher concentration, which is the
opposite of the passive mechanisms of diffusion and osmosis.
For a certain molecule to be transported against the concentration gradient, it needs a
carrier protein and an expenditure of energy. In this case, chemical energy, which is usually
liberated from adenosine triphosphate or ATP, is required by the carrier protein to change
its conformation and allow the transport of the molecule. Therefore, cells that perform
active transport have a relatively large number of mitochondria. This is very evident and
important in muscle cells and nerve cells of the body.
Sodium-Potassium Pumps
Proteins involved in active transport often are called pumps, because they use energy to
move a substance against its concentration gradient. A type of pump, which is common in
animal cells and that is associated with nerve and muscle cells, is called the
sodium-potassium pump (as shown in Fig. 4.3.1). This pump moves sodium ions (Na+) to
the outside of the cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell. Their transport is linked
together through the same carrier protein.
Fig. 4.3.1. The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium and potassium ions against their
concentration gradients.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 4
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
The sodium-potassium carrier protein has an initial shape that allows it to bind three
sodium ions. Phosphate from an ATP molecule is added to the carrier protein, and it
changes shape. This shape change allows the movement of sodium ions across the
membrane. The new shape is no longer compatible with binding to the sodium, which falls
away. It creates an electric charge which is very important for the function of muscle cells
and nerve cells.
However, the new shape is compatible with picking up two potassium ions, which bind to
their respective sites. As the phosphate that was added from ATP previously leaves, the
carrier protein assumes its original shape, and the two potassium ions are released inside
the cell. This bidirectional transport of three sodium and two potassium ions creates a
solute gradient across the plasma membrane.
Calcium Pumps
Other ions such as Ca2+ and Cl− are also transported via active mechanisms for the cell to
maintain normal physiological conditions. Calcium ions, similar to sodium ions, must be
maintained at low concentrations inside the cell. This maintenance is essential for the
proteins in cells to function normally. Similarly, calcium pumps are also at work in this type
of transport, and energy is also required to accomplish the process. However, the difference
with sodium-potassium pumps is that calcium pumps do not need binding to a second ion
for the protein pump to return to its original shape. It simply binds to the calcium ions and
pumps them out of the cell.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 5
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Facilitated Transport
Biologically useful molecules are able to enter and exit the cell either by the way of a
channel or carrier proteins in the membrane especially when these molecules cannot cross
the lipid bilayer because of their chemical nature. Facilitated transport, which is also called
facilitated diffusion or passive-mediated transport, involves the movement of molecules
down their concentration gradient, but with the aid of membrane transport proteins. Note
that this should be differentiated from the simple diffusion that takes place readily across
the lipid bilayer, without the help of transport proteins. The transport proteins in the cell
are very specific. Each of them can only transport a certain type of molecule or ion across
the membrane. They can either be carrier proteins (also called transporters) or channel
proteins, as discussed in the previous chapter.
Glucose Transporters
As mentioned earlier, the absorption of glucose from the gut is accomplished via active
transport. Specifically, this takes from the gut cavity to the cells lining the intestines.
However, glucose must also be transported from this epithelial cell to the underlying cells to
the bloodstream. To achieve this, the other side of the epithelial cell of the intestines have
glucose transporters, a general diagram of which is shown in Fig. 4.3.2.. These are carrier
proteins that transport glucose down their concentration gradient, thus energy is required.
Various sugar molecules of identical size might also be present inside or outside the cell, but
glucose can cross the membrane hundreds of times faster than the other sugars because of
this specific transporter.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 6
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Fig. 4.3.2. The general mechanism of glucose transport through facilitated diffusion involves
a change in the conformation of the carrier protein or transporter.
Ion Channels
In addition to relatively large glucose molecules, ions cannot cross the lipid bilayer passively
because of their charges (polar). These ions are relatively smaller so they do not need
carrier proteins. But rather, channel proteins facilitate their diffusion across the membrane.
Particularly, they have certain ion channels that allow their movement. These ion channels
are also very specific because they only allow the passage of certain ions. Note that the cell
maintains relatively different concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell. Na+ is
abundant outside, while K+ is more abundant inside the cell. To balance these charges, the
cell also maintains a relatively high Cl− outside the cell (alongside sodium ions) and a
relatively higher concentration of organic and inorganic ions or anions such as amino acids,
nucleic acids, and proteins inside the cell (alongside potassium ions).
In excitable cells such as muscle and nerve cells, sodium and potassium ion channels are
important. Upon excitation by a stimulus, sodium ion channels open to allow the
movement of sodium ions down the concentration gradient, i.e., into the cell. However, note
that the cell must maintain a relatively negative charge. It transiently becomes positively
charged. This then triggers the potassium ion channels to open allowing the movement of
potassium ions down their concentration gradient, i.e., outside the cell. To relate it to the
earlier discussion, the sodium-potassium pump helps restore the concentration of sodium
and potassium ions outside and inside the cell, respectively. As mentioned, these channels
are not normally open, thus they are said to be gated (as shown in Fig. 4.3.3.). Still, upon
the introduction of stimulus, they can open and allow the movement of ions down the
concentration gradient.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 7
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Fig. 4.3.3. Ion channels are usually gated. They will open when certain conditions are met.
The chloride ion (Cl−) usually crosses the plasma membrane through chloride channels
because it is attracted by positively charged sodium ions (Na+). A genetic disorder called
cystic fibrosis results from a faulty chloride channel protein. When chloride is unable to
exit a cell, water molecules stay behind. The lack of water outside the cells causes
abnormally thick mucus in the bronchial tubes and pancreatic ducts, which interferes with
the function of the lungs and pancreas.
Remember
How does active and facilitated transport differ from each other?
Active transport involves the movement of molecules or ions
against the concentration gradient which requires energy while
facilitated transport transfer molecules or ions down the
concentration gradient which does not require the use of energy.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 8
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
Key Points
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
● Active transport is a mechanism that allows the movement of molecules across the
membrane against the concentration gradient.
○ For a certain molecule to be transported against the concentration gradient, it
needs a carrier protein and an expenditure of energy.
○ The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions (Na+) to the outside of the
cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell.
○ The calcium pumps do not need binding to a second ion for the protein
pump to return to its original shape. It simply binds to the calcium ions and
pumps them out of the cell.
● Facilitated transport is the movement of molecules or ions down the concentration
with the help of membrane transport proteins.
○ Glucose transporters are found at the base of the epithelial cells of the
intestines. These are carriers that supply glucose molecules to the underlying
tissues and into the bloodstream.
○ Ion channels, such as that of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions, are
essential in modifying the charge of the cell’s interior.
Molecules that cannot pass through the bilayer are assisted by membrane proteins.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 9
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
A. Identify the correct term being described by each of the following
statements.
1. This is a cellular transport mechanism that requires energy because it moves
molecules against the concentration gradient.
2. This protein moves sodium ions (Na+) to the outside of the cell and potassium ions
(K+) to the inside of the cell.
3. These proteins transport certain types of molecules or ions across the membrane.
4. This is a transport mechanism that transfers molecules or ions down the
concentration gradient which does not require the use of energy.
5. This protein transports glucose molecules from the gut to the intestinal epithelial
cell.
6. It is a requirement for the pumps during active transport to move substances
against the concentration gradient.
7. This protein allows the movement of sodium ions down their concentration
gradient.
8. This protein transports glucose molecules from the intestinal epithelium to the
underlying tissues and bloodstream.
9. These proteins are used to transport molecules across the membrane against their
concentration gradient.
10. This is generated across the plasma membrane because of the bidirectional
transport of three sodium and two potassium.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 10
Unit 4: Cellular Transport Mechanisms
C. Label the following diagram of an active transport
below. Identify the correct term for each part. (5 points)
Challenge Yourself
1. Exposure to a mutagen led to the mutation of the Na+-K+ pump, as
well as the calcium pumps, in the left arm. What bodily functions could be affected
by this event?
2. How will you relate the function of the sodium-potassium pump to the
concentration gradient across the cell membrane?
3. Distinguish how active transport, diffusion, and osmosis differ in terms of
transporting molecules across the membrane?
4. What is the importance of sodium-potassium pumps in transferring molecules
through active transport?
5. How can glucose molecules be moved across the plasma membrane?
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 11
Bibliography
Hoefnagels, Marielle. Biology: The Essentials. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2016.
Mader, Sylvia S., and Michael Windelspecht. Biology. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2014.
Reece, Jane B, Martha R. Taylor, Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey, and Kelly Hogan. Biology
Concepts and Connections. 8th ed. Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd., 2016.
Simon, Eric J., and Jane B. Reece. Campbell Essential Biology. 5th ed. Pearson Education Inc.,
2013.
4.3. Cell’s Transport Mechanism II: Active and Facilitated Transport 12