SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

General Biology 1
Quarter 1 – Module 14:
Title: Endocytosis and
Exocytosis
General Biology 1 – Grade 12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 14: Endocytosis and Exocytosis
First Edition, 2020

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 12

General Biology 1
Quarter 1 – Module 14:
Endocytosis and Exocytosis
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the General Biology 1-Grade 12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)

Module on Endocytosis and Exocytosis!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration
their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

2
For the learner:

Welcome to the General Biology 1 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

Endocytosis and Exocytosis!

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a
learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant
competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in
your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities
for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be
enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in
the module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of

the lesson. This aims to help you discover
and understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or

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 skill into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of
the lesson learned. This also tends retention
of learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of
the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning
and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of Biology. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to
correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module is divided into three lessons, namely:

 Lesson 1 – Definition and Types of Endocytosis
 Lesson 2 – Exocytosis
 Lesson 3 – Key difference between Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Describe endocytosis
2. Identify and describe the types of endocytosis
3. Describe Exocytosis
4. Differentiate Endocytosis and Exocytosis
5. Differentiate Pinocytosis and Phagocytosis

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. What type of transport involves the cell engulfing matter from the outside
environment?
a. Exocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Pinocytosis

2. This material normally gets exocytose from a cell?

a. Hormones
b. DNA
c. Integral membrane
d. RNA

3. Which of the following statements is true for exocytosis?

a. it helps in the intake of large materials by the cell.
b. it occurs without the help of any cell organelle
c. it is a form of active transport
d. it does not require energy

4. Which of the following statements is true for endocytosis?

a. it does not require energy
b. it helps in the intake of large materials by the cell
c. it occurs without the help of any cell organelle
d. it is a form of passive transport

5. Particle A is observed to be brought into the cell through endocytosis. This

means that the destination of particle A is most likely ___________.
a. the cytosol because it is being transported via a vesicle
b. one of the membrane-bound organelles because vesicles aren’t involve
c. one of the membrane-bound organelles because it is being transported via
a vesicle
d. the cytosol because vesicles aren’t involve

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6. Which of the following is an example of endocytosis?
a. A plasma membrane engulfing large materials so that they can enter the
cell
b. Light and carbon dioxide being converted into carbohydrate and oxygen
c. A vesicle transporting materials into a cell
d. A vesicle transporting materials out of a cell

7. This process best describes how a macrophage (immune cell) engulfs a bacterial
pathogen
a. Pinocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Active transport

8. Types of endocytosis include

a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Both A and B

9. Cell drinking occurs in

a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Receptor mediated endocytosis
d. osmosis

10. When vesicles in cytoplasm combines with plasma membrane excreting

hormones and other materials out of cell this process is called
a. Exocytosis
b. Endocytosis
c. Excretion
d. Engulfing

11. All are wrong about Exocytosis but

a. Engulfing of solid
b. removes materials from the cell
c. Engulfing of liquids
d. Secretion
12. The engulfing of bacteria by white blood cells is called as
a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Exocytosis
d. Endocytosis

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13. Engulfing o the material by the cell surface membrane to form a small sac
occurs in
a. Exocytosis
b. Endocytosis
c. Pinocytosis
d. Phagocytosis

14. Endocytosis and phagocytosis refer to the same process.

a. true
b. False
c. Sometimes true
d. Sometimes False

15. The process in which cell uptakes extracellular material bound to cell surface
receptors is known as
a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Receptor mediated endocytosis
d. osmosis

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 Bulk Transport: Endocytosis
Lesson
and Exocytosis

In
addition to
moving small
ions and
molecules
through the
membrane, cells
also need to
remove and take
in larger
molecules and
particles. Some
cells are even
capable of
engulfing entire unicellular microorganisms. You might have correctly
hypothesized that the uptake and release of large particles by the cell
requires energy. A large particle, however, cannot pass through the
membrane, even with energy supplied by the cell. Some molecules or
particles are just too large to pass through the plasma membrane or to move
through a transport protein. So cells use two other active transport
processes to move these macromolecules (large molecules) into or out of the
cell. Vesicles or other bodies in the cytoplasm move macromolecules or large
particles across the plasma membrane.

There are two types of vesicle transport, endocytosis and exocytosis

(illustrated in the Figure below). Both processes are active transport
processes, requiring energy.

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 What’s In

What does a cell "eat"?

Is it possible for objects larger than a small molecule to be engulfed by

a cell? Of course it is. This image depicts a cancer cell being attacked by a
cell of the immune system. Cells of the immune system consistently destroy
pathogens by essentially "eating" them. Find out below how this happens.

Notes to the Teacher

Ask the students to watch an animation in the link below showing
immune cells eating bacteria so they can understand the
concepts better.
https://youtu.be/iZYLelJwe4w

What’s New

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 The term

‘Endocytosis’ was given by Christain de Duve in the year 1963. Both the
terms refers to the intake of material through the plasma membrane by
forming vesicles which are a membrane-bound droplet located inside the
cytoplasm of the cell. Endocytosis occurs in the animal cell and very rarely
in plant cell as the plant cell is surrounded by the cell wall, which causes
hindrance in the invagination of the plasma membrane.
Transmission electron microscope image of brain tissue
that shows pinocytotic vesicles. Pinocytosis is a type of
endocytosis

Illustration of an axon releasing dopamine by exocytosis

What is It

Endocytosis is a type of active transport that moves particles, such

as large molecules, parts of cells, and even whole cells, into a cell. There are
different variations of endocytosis, but all share a common characteristic:
the plasma membrane of the cell invaginates, forming a pocket around the
target particle. The pocket pinches off, resulting in the particle being
contained in a newly created intracellular vesicle formed from the plasma
membrane.

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 THREE TYPES OF ENDOCYTOSIS

1. PHAGOCYTOSIS

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 Phagocytosis (the condition of “cell eating”) is
the process by which large particles, such as cells
or relatively large particles, are taken in by a cell.
For example, when microorganisms invade the
human body, a type of white blood cell called a
neutrophil will remove the invaders through this
process, surrounding and engulfing the
microorganism, which is then destroyed by the
neutrophil (see figure 1 below).

Figure
In1:preparation
In phagocytosis,
for the cell membranea portion of the inward-facing surface
phagocytosis,
surrounds the particle and engulfs it (credit:
of the plasma membrane becomes coated with a protein called clathrin,
Mariana Ruiz Villareal)
which stabilizes this section of the membrane. The coated portion of the
membrane then extends from the body of the cell and surrounds the
particle, eventually enclosing it. Once the vesicle containing the particle is
enclosed within the cell, the clathrin disengages from the membrane and the
vesicle merges with a lysosome for the breakdown of the material in the
newly formed compartment (endosome). When accessible nutrients from the
degradation of the vesicular contents have been extracted, the newly formed
endosome merges with the plasma membrane and releases its contents into
the extracellular fluid. The endosomal membrane again becomes part of the
plasma membrane.

2. PINOCYTOSIS
This literally means “cell drinking”. It is the intake of liquid and small
particles usually, ions, amino acids, sugars, insulin, and lipoproteins. It was
named at a time when the assumption was that the cell was purposefully
taking in extracellular fluid. In reality, this is a process that takes in
molecules, including water, which the cell needs from the extracellular fluid.
Pinocytosis results in a much smaller vesicle than phagocytosis, and the
vesicle does not need to merge with a lysosome (see Figure 2 below).

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 Figure 2. The cell
membrane
invaginates,
surrounds a small
volume of fluid and
pinches off.

(Credit: Mariana
Ruiz Villareal)

A variation of pinocytosis is called potocytosis. This process uses a

coating protein, called caveolin, on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma
membrane, which performs a similar function to clathrin. The cavities in the
plasma membrane that form the vacuoles have membrane receptors and
lipid rafts in addition to caveolin.

The vacuoles or vesicles formed in caveolae (singular caveola) are

smaller than those in pinocytosis. Potocytosis is used to bring small
molecules into the cell and to transport these molecules through the cell for
their release on the other side of the cell, a process called transcytosis.

3. RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS

A targeted variation of endocytosis employs receptor proteins in the

plasma membrane that have a specific binding affinity for certain
substances (Figure 3 below).

In receptor-mediated
endocytosis, uptake of
substances by the cell
is targeted to a single
type of substance that
binds to the receptor
on the external surface
of the cell membrane.
(Credit: modification of
work by Mariana Ruiz
Villareal)

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 In receptor-mediated endocytosis, as in phagocytosis, clathrin is
attached to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane. If uptake of a
compound is dependent on receptor-mediated endocytosis and the process is
ineffective, the material will not be removed from the tissue fluids or blood.
Instead, it will stay in those fluids and increase in concentration.

Some human diseases are caused by the failure of receptor-mediated

endocytosis. For example, the form of cholesterol termed low-density
lipoprotein or LDL (also referred to as “bad” cholesterol) is removed from the
blood by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In the human genetic disease
familial hypercholesterolemia, the LDL receptors are defective or missing
entirely. People with this condition have life-threatening levels of cholesterol
in their blood, because their cells cannot clear LDL particles from their
blood.

Although receptor-mediated endocytosis is designed to bring specific

substances that are normally found in the extracellular fluid into the cell,
other substances may gain entry into the cell at the same site. Flu viruses,
diphtheria, and cholera toxin all have sites that cross-react with normal
receptor-binding sites and gain entry into cells.

EXOCYTOSIS is the reverse process of moving material into a cell is

the process of exocytosis. Exocytosis is the opposite of the processes
discussed in the last section in that its purpose is to expel material from the
cell into the extracellular fluid. Waste material is enveloped in a membrane
and fuses with the interior of the plasma membrane. This fusion opens the
membranous envelope on the exterior of the cell, and the waste material is
expelled into the extracellular space (see Figure 4 below). Other examples of
cells releasing molecules via exocytosis include the secretion of proteins of
the extracellular matrix and secretion of neurotransmitters into the synaptic
cleft by synaptic vesicles.

Figure 4. In exocytosis,
vesicles containing
substances fuse with
the plasma membrane.
The contents are then
released to the exterior
of the cell.

(Credit: modification of
work by Mariana Ruiz
15 Villareal)
 Key Differences between Pinocytosis and
Phagocytosis
We already discuss, that both the mechanisms pinocytosis and phagocytosis
falls under the main process called Endocytosis, given below are the key
differences between them:

1. Pinocytosis is the process of ingestion of small liquid particles

through plasma membrane with the help of formation of vesicles known as
pinosomes; Phagocytosis is the process of ingestion of solid particles through
plasma membrane with the help of lysosomes and phagosomes, which
release enzymes for breaking the larger particles.

2. The process of engulfing is by Invagination in pinocytosis, and by

pseudopodia in phagocytosis.
3. Lysosomes do not play any role in pinocytosis, while lysosomes
along with phagosomes help in digestion of bigger particles.

4. Pinocytosis is not substrate specific and cell takes all kind of

surrounding fluids with all solutes present while, Phagocytosis is specific in
substrate transportation.

5. The purpose of pinocytosis is used for intake of materials, whereas

phagocytosis is used for the defensive purpose by engulfing the foreign
particles. The vesicles formed in pinocytosis is pinosomes and that of
phagocytosis is known as phagosomes.

6. The particles taken in pinocytosis are enzymes, hormones, amino

acids, sugars, etc. for the purpose of intake of smaller particles; while
phagocytosis is performed by neutrophils, macrophages, and protozoans for
defensive purpose and ingests dust, foreign particles, harmful bacteria, and
virus.

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 What’s More

ACTIVITY 1: LET’S CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. What process is shown in figure A above? Explain.

2. What process is shown in figure B above? Explain.
3. An amoeba engulfs a particle of food.

Does this require energy? ___________________________________

Is this active or passive transport? Why? Why not? __________

_____________________________________________________________

Is this endocytosis or exocytosis? ____________________________

Is this phagocytosis or pinocytosis? __________________________

4. An amoeba expels water

Does this require energy? ____________________________________

Is this active or passive transport? Why? Why not? ____________

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______________________________________________________________

Is this endocytosis or exocytosis? _____________________________

Activity 2: COMPARISON TABLE

Direction: Complete the table below by completing the information based on

what you have learned.

BASIS FOR PINOCYTOSIS PHAGOCYTOSIS

COMPARISON
MEANING a. _____________________
Process of By invagination
engulfing
Kinds of particles c. _______________________
ingested
Substrate specific Pinocytosis is not substrate
specific and cell takes all
kind of surrounding fluids
with all solutes present.
Purpose e. ___________________
Vesicles forms Pinosomes
Role of lysosomes g. ____________________
Types of particles h. ____________________
intake
Where it happens Usually occurs in secretory
cells, cell linings of blood
capillaries
Phagocytosis is called cell
eating, in which particles
are broken down into
simpler substance with the
help of enzymes for
absorption.
b. ______________________
Solid
d. ______________________
f. _______________________
Phagosomes
Lysosomes combine with
phagosomes for the
formation of food vacuole
i. _______________________
j. _______________________

What I Have Learned

1. Active transport is the energy-requiring process of pumping

molecules and ions across membranes against a concentration gradient.
2. Endocytosis is the process of capturing a substance or particle
from outside the cell by engulfing it with the cell membrane, and bringing it
into the cell. There are three types of endocytosis namely: phagocytosis,
pinocytosis and receptor mediated endocytosis.
3. Exocytosis describes the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma
membrane and releasing their contents to the outside of the cell.

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4. Both endocytosis and exocytosis are active transport processes.

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 What I Can Do

UNIT ENDER TASK

Direction: Complete the table by supplying with the correct

information based on what you learned from the whole unit about

TRANSPORT MECHANISMS.

TRANSPORT METHOD ACTIVE/PASSIVE MATERIAL

TRANSPORTED
DIFFUSION

OSMOSIS

FACILITATED
DIFFUSION
PHAGOCYTOSIS

PINOCYTOSIS

RECEPTOR-MEDIATED
ENDOCYTOSIS
EXOCYTOSIS

20
 Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. This process best describes how a macrophage (immune cell) engulfs a bacterial
pathogen
a. Pinocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Active transport

2. Types of endocytosis include

a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Both A and B

3. Cell drinking occurs in

a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Receptor mediated endocytosis
d. osmosis

4. When vesicles in cytoplasm combines with plasma membrane excreting

hormones and other materials out of cell this process is called
a. Exocytosis
b. Endocytosis
c. Excretion
d. Engulfing

5. All are wrong about Exocytosis but

a. Engulfing of solid
b. removes materials from the cell
c. Engulfing of liquids
d. Secretion

6. The engulfing of bacteria by white blood cells is called as

a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Exocytosis
d. Endocytosis

21
7. Engulfing o the material by the cell surface membrane to form a small sac
occurs in
a. Exocytosis
b. Endocytosis
c. Pinocytosis
d. Phagocytosis

8. Endocytosis and phagocytosis refer to the same process.

a. true
b. False
c. Sometimes true
d. Sometimes False

9. The process in which cell uptakes extracellular material bound to cell surface
receptors is known as
a. Phagocytosis
b. Pinocytosis
c. Receptor mediated endocytosis
d. osmosis

10. What type of transport involves the cell engulfing matter from the outside
environment?
a. Exocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Diffusion
d. Pinocytosis

11. This material normally gets exocytose from a cell?

a. Hormones
b. DNA
c. Integral membrane
d. RNA

12. Which of the following statements is true for exocytosis?

a. it helps in the intake of large materials by the cell.
b. it occurs without the help of any cell organelle
c. it is a form of active transport
d. it does not require energy

13. Which of the following statements is true for endocytosis?

a. it does not require energy
b. it helps in the intake of large materials by the cell
c. it occurs without the help of any cell organelle
d. it is a form of passive transport

22
14. Particle A is observed to be brought into the cell through endocytosis. This
means that the destination of particle A is most likely ___________.
a. the cytosol because it is being transported via a vesicle
b. one of the membrane-bound organelles because vesicles aren’t involve
c. one of the membrane-bound organelles because it is being transported via
a vesicle
d. the cytosol because vesicles aren’t involve

15. Which of the following is an example of endocytosis?

a. A plasma membrane engulfing large materials so that they can enter the
cell
b. Light and carbon dioxide being converted into carbohydrate and oxygen
c. A vesicle transporting materials into a cell
d. A vesicle transporting materials out of a cell

23
 Additional Activities

EXPRESS IN WRITING

Having learned about the what’s, why’s and how’s of the bulk
transport namely endocytosis and exocytosis, write a 10 sentences
paragraph expressing what do you think will happen if there is no bulk
transport in our body.

___________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

3 Points Exit

Three concepts I learned:

1. ________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________
Two real-life realizations after finishing the topic
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
One most favorite part of the lesson
1. _________________________________________________

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 25
ASSESSMENT Assessment
(POST-TEST) WHAT I KNOW
B B
D A
B C
A B
B C
A C
B B
B D
C B
B A
A B
C A
B B
C B
C C
Answer Key
References

 https://www.varsitytutors.com/high_school_biology-help/understanding-

endocytosis-and-exocytosis

 https://www.mcqslearn.com/mcat/biology/exocytosis-and-endocytosis.php

 https://www.mcqslearn.com/a-level/biology/endocytosis-exocytosis-

pinocytosis-phagocytosis-multiple-choice-questions.php

 https://www.ck12.org/c/biology/exocytosis-and-endocytosis/lesson/

Exocytosis-and-Endocytosis-BIO/

 https://biodifferences.com/difference-between-pinocytosis-and-

phagocytosis.html

 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-wmopen-biology1/chapter/

endocytosis-and-exocytosis/

 http://pnhs.psd202.org/documents/rkieft/1500929044.pdf

 http://www.biology-resources.com/drawing-amoeba-breathing.html

 https://cdn.kastatic.org/third_party/javascript-khansrc/khan-mathjax/

2.1/extensions/MathZoom.js

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