BIOLOGY 1

CELL MEMBRANE – phospholipid bilayer surrounding the

cell.
- Selectively permeable – allows only certain substances
to enter and leave the cell.
- A fluid mosaic.
- A fluid – exhibits properties that resemble fluids: lipid
and proteins can move relative to each other in the
membrane.
- A mosaic – diverse proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates
are imbedded to the structure.
Integral membrane proteins can be classified as:

1. Uniporter – transport substances in a unidirectional manner depending on the concentration gradient.

2. Symporter – transports different types of molecules in the cell membrane at the same time.
3. Antiporter – opposite of symporters.

TRANSPORT OF MOLECULES ACROSS CELL MEMBRANE

Factors to be considered before the substance can pass through the

membrane;

1. Structure and composition of the membrane

2. Size of molecule
3. Movement of Molecule
4. Internal and external environment
KINDS OF CELL TRANSPORT:

1. PASSIVE TRANSPORT – does not require energy to move substances across cell membranes.
- Relies on the Second Law of Thermodynamics to drive the movement across cell membranes.

TYPES OF PASSIVE TRANSPORT:

A. DIFFUSION – occurs when particles move from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration.
- occurs when particles move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
- It is an example of passive transport because energy is not a requirement during the process.
- It is an important cellular process. For instance, the movement of oxygen from the air into the blood
and the carbon dioxide out of the blood into the surrounding air in the lungs are some of the biological
importance of this process.
B. OSMOSIS – if diffusion takes place in a semi-permeable membrane.
- Occurs when two areas of differing concentration gradients are being separated by a PARTIALLY
semi-permeable membrane.
- Movement of water through the cell membrane from an area of higher concentration to lower
concentration.
- The principle that governs the movement of water inside the body to maintain homeostasis.

If you place a cell in a solution (mixture of 2 substances) Three things can happen:

1. Isotonic Solution – concentration of water is the same inside and outside cell.

2. Hypotonic Solution – there is a higher

concentration of water outside cell, so water
moves into cell.

3. Hypertonic Solution – When there is a

higher concentration of water inside cell, so
water moves out of cell
 C. FACILITATED DIFFUSION – relies on
carrier proteins in order for the substances to
move down their concentration gradient.
- Something that could facilitate the diffusion
of the hydrophobic substances is necessary,
and;
- Accomplished through integral proteins
embedded in the plasma membrane.
- Integral proteins serve as gates that open and
close in regulating the flow of substances.

2. ACTIVE TRANSPORT – when the cell needs higher concentration than it typically receives at a faster
rate, it uses additional metabolic energy against the concentration gradient to move molecules across the
membrane.

3. BULK TRANSPORT – aka Vesicle-Meditated Transport.

- Occurs when a large molecule needs to be transported across the membrane;
- The substance will be enclosed in a membrane-bound sac composed of the plasma membrane or
internal membrane.
- Works both ways: required materials can go in (endocytosis) and out (exocytosis) of the cell.
TYPES OF PROCESSES:
1. ENDOCYTOSIS – in the INTAKE of large molecules, the portion of the plasma membrane invaginates
to enclose the substance.
- It pinches off to form a vesicle that holds the large molecule.
a. Phagocytosis – vesicle holds a solid substance.
b. Pinocytosis – vesicle contains a liquid material.
c. Receptor-Meditated Endocytosis – the molecule binds to the surface of the cell membrane.
d. Clathrin – refers to the coating of the specialized protein in the area where the molecule binds to
the receptor in the internal layer of the adjacent membrane.
- Stimulates the internal surface of the membrane fold.
2. EXOCYTOSIS – vesicles from inside the cell fuse with the plasma membrane which travels across the
membrane to be released out of the cell.
- Applies to enzymes and hormones.