TRANSPORT ACROSS THE CELL MEMBRANE

Substances move across plasma membranes by various transport mechanisms. They are
passive transport, active transport and vesicular transport.

A. Passive transport
Transport of substances along the concentration gradient. ie, the substances move
from region of higher concentration to lower concentration.
It does not need energy.
It also known as downhill movement.
1. Diffusion
Random mixing of molecules or ions in a solution due to their kinetic energy.
A substance moves down a concentration gradient due to their kinetic energy until they reach
equilibrium.
a. Simple diffusion
Transport of substances through the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane without
the help of membrane transport proteins.
Eg: Nonpolar, hydrophobic solutes: O2, CO2 and nitrogen gases; fatty acids; steroids; and fat
soluble vitamins. Polar molecules such as water, urea, and small alcohols.
 b. Facilitated diffusion
Transport of substances through the lipid bilayer with the help of transmembrane
proteins that function as channels or carriers.
Eg: Polar or charged solutes: glucose, fructose, galactose, some vitamins, and ions such as
K+, Cl-, Na+, and Ca2+.

➢ Ping-Pong’ model for facilitated diffusion

• According to this mechanism, a transport (carrier) protein exists in two conformations.
• In the pong conformation, it is exposed to the side with high solute concentration.
• This allows the binding of solute to specific sites on the carrier protein.
• The protein then undergoes a conformational change (ping state) to expose to the side
with low solute concentration where the solute molecule is released.

2. Osmosis
Movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an
area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.
B. Active transport
Movement of substances against a concentration gradient or chemical gradient by
carrier proteins.
It requires energy, which is obtained mainly by breakdown of high energy
compounds like ATP
It is also called uphill transport.
Eg: Polar or charged solutes

a. Primary active transport

Type of transport mechanism in which the energy is directly liberated from the
breakdown of ATP.
Na+ and K+ ions are transported across the cell membrane by a common carrier protein called
Na+-K+ pump or Na+-K+ ATPase pump.
Eg: Na+, K+, Ca2+, H+, Cl- and other ions.

b. Secondary transport
Transport of sodium is coupled with transport of another substance by a common
carrier protein. There is indirect involvement of energy. (Coupled active transport of two
substances across the membrane).
Transport Systems
The transport systems may be divided into 3 Categories
1. Uniport
2. Symport
3. Antiport
 Uniport: Carrier protein that carries only one substance in a single direction.
Symport: Carrier protein that transports two different substances in the same direction.
Antiport: Carrier protein that transports two different substances in opposite directions.
Eg: Antiport: Ca2+, H+ out of cell.
Symport: Glucose, aminoacids into cells.

C. Transport in Vesicles
Active process in which substances move into or out of cells in vesicles that bud from
the plasma membrane.
It requires energy in the form of ATP.
1) Endocytosis
It is a transport mechanism of macromolecules.
 Macromolecules are engulfed by the cell membrane to form a vesicle, which is then
pinched off intracellularly.
a. Phagocytosis
Process by which a solid particle into a cell after pseudopods engulf it to form
a vesicle (phagosome). It is also called “cell eating”.
Eg: Bacteria, viruses, antigens, aged cells and foreign bodies.

b. Pinocytosis
Process by which extracellular fluid into a cell by infolding of plasma
membrane to form a vesicle (endosome). It is also called “cell drinking”.
Eg: Solutes in extracellular fluid

c. Receptor mediated endocytosis.

Transport of macromolecules with the help of a receptor protein.
Eg; Some vitamins, certain hormones, and antibodies.
 2) Exocytosis
Process by which the substances are expelled from the cell without passing
through the cell membrane. This is the reverse endocytosis.
Eg: Neurotransmitters, hormones and digestive enzymes

3) Transcytosis
Process in which an extracellular macromolecule enters through one side of a
cell, moves across cytoplasm of the cell and exit through the other side.
Eg: Antibodies