Active Transport

11/18/22, 1:35 PM Active Transport
Active Transport
Active transport is the movement of molecules against their concentration gradient,
and energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This ATP is generated from
to change the conformational shape of the carrier proteins.
This type of transport is different from the passive forms of transport, such as diffusi
move down their concentration gradient. This is because active transport is an activ
molecules up their concentration gradient.
Carrier proteins
Carrier proteins, which are transmembrane proteins, act as pumps to allow the p
binding sites that are complementary to specific molecules. This makes carrier pro
molecules.
 The binding sites found in carrier proteins are similar to the binding sites we see in enzymes
substrate molecule and this indicates the selectivity of carrier proteins.
Definition
Transmembrane proteins span the full length of a phospholipid bilayer.
Definition
Complementary proteins have active site configurations that fit their substrate co
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The steps involved in active transport are described below.
1. The molecule binds to the carrier protein from one side of the cell membrane.
2. ATP binds to the carrier protein and is hydrolysed to produce ADP and Pi (phosp
3. The Pi attaches to the carrier protein and this causes it to change its conformat
now open to the other side of the membrane.
4. The molecules pass through the carrier protein to the other side of the membran
5. The Pi detaches from the carrier protein, causing the carrier protein to return to i
6. The process begins again.
 Deep dive
Facilitated transport, which is a form of passive transport, also uses carrier prote
proteins needed for active transport are different as these require ATP whereas
facilitated diffusion do not.
Different types of active transport
The three types of active transport include:
Uniport
Symport
Antiport
Uniport

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Uniport is the movement of one type of molecule in one direction. Note that uniport
both facilitated diffusion, which is the movement of a molecule down its co
transport. The carrier proteins needed are called uniporters.

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Fig. 1 - The direction of movement in uniport active transport
Symport
Symport is the movement of two types of molecules in the same direction. The mo

concentration gradient (usually an ion) is coupled to the movement of the other m
gradient. The carrier proteins needed are called symporters.

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Fig. 2 - The direction of movement in symport active transport
Antiport
Antiport is the movement of two types of molecules in opposite directions. The c

antiporters.

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Fig. 3 - The direction of movement in antiport active transport
Active transport in plants

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Mineral uptake in plants is a process that relies on active transport. Minerals in the s

magnesium, sodium, potassium and nitrate ions. These are all important for a plan
growth and photosynthesis.
The concentration of mineral ions is lower in the soil relative to the inside of root ha
gradient, active transport is needed to pump the minerals into the root hair cell. Car
specific mineral ions mediate active transport; this is a form of uniport.
You can also link this process of mineral uptake to water uptake. The pumping of m
cytoplasm lowers the cell's water potential. This creates a water potential gradient b
cell, which drives osmosis.
Definition
Osmosis is defined as the movement of water from an area of high water potentia
through a partially permeable membrane.
Deep dive

As active transport needs ATP, you can see why waterlogged plants cause issue
obtain oxygen, and this severely reduces the rate of aerobic respiration. This cau
and therefore, less ATP is available for the active transport needed in mineral up
Active transport in animals

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The sodium-potassium ATPase pumps (Na+/K+ ATPase) are abundant in nerve cells an
is an example of an antiporter. 3 Na + are pumped out of the cell for every 2 K + pump
The movement of ions generated from this antiporter creates an electrochemical gra
for action potentials and the passage of glucose from the ileum into the blood, as we w

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Fig. 4 - The direction of movement in the Na+/K+ ATPase pump
What is co-transport in active transport?
Co-transport, also termed secondary active transport, is a type of active transport th

different molecules across a membrane. The movement of one molecule down its
ion, is coupled to the movement of another molecule against its concentration gradien
 Deep dive
Cotransport can be either symport and antiport, but not uniport. This is because
of molecules whereas uniport only involves one type.
The cotransporter uses the energy from the electrochemical gradient to drive the pa
means ATP is indirectly used for the transport of the molecule against its concentratio

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Glucose and sodium in the ileum
The absorption of glucose involves cotransport and this happens in the ileum epitheli
is a form of symport as the absorption of glucose into the ileum epithelial cells invo
same direction. This process also involves facilitated diffusion, but cotransport is
diffusion is limited when an equilibrium is reached - cotransport ensures all glucose is
This process requires three main membrane proteins:
Na+/ K + ATPase pump

Na + / glucose cotransporter pump
Glucose transporter
The Na+/K+ ATPase pump is located in the membrane facing the capillary. As previo
out of the cell for every 2K+ pumped into the cell. As a result, a concentration gradi
ileum epithelial cell has a lower concentration of Na+ than the ileum lumen.
The Na+/glucose cotransporter is located in the membrane of the epithelial cell facing
the cotransporter alongside glucose. As a result of the Na+ gradient, Na+ will diffuse i
gradient. The energy produced from this movement allows the passage of glucose int
gradient.
The glucose transporter is located in the membrane facing the capillary. Facilitated
into the capillary down its concentration gradient.

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Fig. 5 - The
carrier proteins
involved in glucose absorption in the ileum
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Adaptations of the ileum for rapid transport
As we just discussed, the ileum epithelial cells lining the small intestine are respons
and glucose. For rapid transport, these epithelial cells have adaptations that help
including:
A brush border made of microvilli

Increased density of carrier proteins
A single layer of epithelial cells
Large numbers of mitochondria
Brush border of microvilli
The brush border is a term used to describe the microvilli lining the cell surfa
cells. These microvilli are finger-like projections that drastically increase the surfac
proteins to be embedded within the cell surface membrane for cotransport.
Increased density of carrier proteins

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The cell surface membrane of the epithelial cells have an increased density of carrier
cotransport as more molecules can be transported at any given time.
Single layer of epithelial cells
There is only one single layer of epithelial cells lining the ileum. This decreases the
molecules.
Large numbers of mitochondria
The epithelial cells contain increased numbers of mitochondria which provide the ATP
What is bulk transport?
Bulk transport is the movement of larger particles, usually macromolecules like protei
cell membrane. This form of transport is needed as some macromolecules are too lar
their passage.
Endocytosis

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Endocytosis is the bulk transport of cargo into cells. The steps involved are discussed
1. The cell membrane surrounds the cargo (invagination.

2. The cell membrane traps the cargo in a vesicle.
3. The vesicle pinches off and moves into the cell, carrying the cargo inside.
There are three main types of endocytosis:
Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis
Receptor-mediated endocytosis
Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis describes the engulfment of large, solid particles, such as pathogens

inside a vesicle, the vesicle will fuse with a lysosome. This is an organelle containing
down the pathogen.
Pinocytosis
Pinocytosis occurs when the cell engulfs liquid droplets from the extracellular enviro
extract as many nutrients as it can from its surroundings.
Receptor-mediated endocytosis

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Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a more selective form of uptake. Receptors embe

binding site that is complementary to a specific molecule. Once the molecule has att
is initiated. This time, the receptor and the molecule are engulfed into a vesicle.
Exocytosis
Exocytosis is the bulk transport of cargo out of cells. The steps involved are outlined b
1. Vesicles containing the cargo of molecules to be exocytosed fuse with the cell m
2. The cargo inside of the vesicles is emptied out into the extracellular environmen
Example
Exocytosis takes place in the synapse as this process is responsible for the releas
presynaptic nerve cell.
Differences between diffusion and active tran
You will come across different forms of molecular transport and you may confuse th
outline the main differences between diffusion and active transport:
Diffusion involves the movement of molecules down their con

transport involves the movement of molecules up their concentrat

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Diffusion is a passive process as it requires no energy expend

active process as it requires ATP.
Diffusion does not require the presence of carrier proteins. Ac
presence of carrier proteins.
 Diffusion is also known as simple diffusion.
Active Transport - Key takeaways

Active transport is the movement of molecules against their concentration gradie
ATP. Carrier proteins are transmembrane proteins that hydrolyse ATP to change
The three types of active transport methods include uniport, symport and antipo
symporter and antiporter carrier proteins, respectively.
Mineral uptake in plants and action potentials in nerve cells are examples of proc
transport in organisms.
Cotransport (secondary active transport) involves the movement of one molecule
gradient coupled to the movement of another molecule against its concentration
in the ileum uses symport cotransport.
Bulk transport, a type of active transport, is the movement of larger macromolec
through the cell membrane. Endocytosis is the bulk transport of molecules into t
bulk transport of molecules out of a cell.

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Active Transport

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11/18/22, 1:35 PM Active Transport

Transmembrane proteins span the full length of a phospholipid bilayer.

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The steps involved in active transport are described below.

Different types of active transport

The three types of active transport include:

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Fig. 1 - The direction of movement in uniport active transport

Symport is the movement of two types of molecules in the same direction. The mo

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Fig. 2 - The direction of movement in symport active transport

Antiport is the movement of two types of molecules in opposite directions. The c

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Fig. 3 - The direction of movement in antiport active transport