Michael Hodgson Introduction Cell membranes are only about 7nm wide but they present barriers to the movement of ions and molecules, particularly polar (water- soluble) molecules such as glucose and amino acids that are repelled by the non-polar, hydrophobic lipids of membranes. This prevents the aqueous contents of the cell from escaping. However, transport across membranes must still occur for a number of reasons, for example: Intro To obtain nutrients To excrete substances To secrete useful substances To generate the ionic gradients essential for nervous and muscular activity To maintain a suitable pH and ionic concentration within the cell for enzyme activity. Intro. There are four basic mechanisms by which movement occurs across the cell membrane: 1. diffusion, 2. osmosis, 3. active transport and 4. bulk transport (endocytosis or
endocytosis). The first two processes are passive, that is
they do not require the expenditure of
energy by the cell; the latter two are active, energy-consuming processes. Diffusion and Facilitated Diffusion Diffusion and facilitated diffusion Diffusion is the movement of molecules or ions from a region of their high concentration to a region of their low concentration down a diffusion gradient. The process is passive, that is it does not
require energy and happens spontaneously.
For example, if a bottle of perfume was opened
in a closed room, the perfume would eventually
spread by diffusion until equilibrium was reached where the perfume was evenly spread throughout the room. This occurs by random motion of molecules
which is due to their kinetic energy (energy of
movement). Diffusion and facilitated diffusion Each type of molecule moves down its own diffusion gradient independently of other molecules. For example, oxygen diffuses from the lung
into the blood while at the same time
carbon dioxide diffuses in the opposite direction. Three factors in particular affect the rate of
difussion. Diffusion and facilitated diffusion
1. The steepness of the diffusion gradient, or
difference in concentration between point A and point B: the steeper the gradient, the faster the rate of diffusion. It is an advantage for cells to maintain steep diffusion gradients if rapid transport is required. This can be achieved in the lungs, for example, by speeding up the flow of blood through the lungs or by breathing faster. Diffusion and facilitated diffusion
2. The greater the surface are of a
membrane through which diffusion is taking place, the greater the rate of diffusion. The larger the cell, assuming it is roughly spherical, the smaller its surface area in relation to its volume. Thus places a limit on cell size. For example, a very large aerobic cell could not obtain oxygen fast enough to satisfy its needs if it relied on diffusion alone. Microvilli increase the surface area of animal cells for absorption purposes. Diffusion and facilitated diffusion 3. Rate of diffusion decreases rapidly with distance (it falls in proportion to the square of the distance). Diffusion is therefore only effective over very short distances. This is another factor which limits cell size. Cells rely on diffusion for internal transport of molecules so most are no larger than 50m in diameter, with no part of the cell more than 25 m from the cell surface. An amino molecule, for example, can travel a few micrometers in several seconds but would take several days to diffuse a few centimeters. It is also essential that membranes are thin so that molecules or ions can cross them rapidly. Diffusion and facilitated diffusion
We can now consider which molecules cross
membranes by diffusion. The respiratory gases oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse rapidly through membranes. Water molecules, although very polar, are small enough to pass between the hydrophobic phospholipid molecules without interference. However, ions and larger polar molecules such as amino acids, sugars, fatty acids and glycerol are repelled by the hydrophobic region of the membrane and diffuse across extremely slowly. Other mechanisms are required for these substances. Diffusion and facilitated diffusion Some ions and polar molecules can diffuse through special transport proteins called channel proteins and carrier proteins. These contain water-filled hydrophobic channels
or pores whose shape is specific for a particular
ion or molecule. Alternatively several proteins combine, forming a
channel between them. Diffusion can occur
through the channel in either direction. Since diffusion would not be possible without the
protein or proteins, the process is known as
facilitated diffusion. Transport proteins allow the passage of ions are
called ion channels.
Diffusion and facilitated diffusion OSMOSIS Osmosis Osmosis is the passage of water molecules from a region of their high concentration to a region of their low concentration through a partially permeable membrane. It is best regarded as a form of diffusion in
which only water molecules move.
The tendency of water molecules to move
from one place to another is measured as
the water potential, represented by the symbol . Water always move from a region of higher water potential to one of lower water potential. Solute molecules reduce (in effect, they
dilute the water!).
The extent by which they lower is known
as solute potential, given symbol s.
Consider the effects of different solution on red blood cells. Osmosis in animal cell Osmosis in animal cell In a hypotonic solution, the solution has a higher water potential than the contents of the red cell. Water therefore enters by osmosis and the cell bursts, dispersing the cell contents. A hypertonic solution has lower water potential than the cell contents, so water leaves the cell by osmosis and the cell shrinks. In an isotonic solution, water potential of the cell equals that of the external solution and no net movement of water occurs. The cell remains normal. Blood plasma must be kept isotonic to red blood cells and other body cells. Osmosis in plant cells Osmosis in plant cells Cells do not burst when it is put into water As it swells it push against the strong cell wall Cell wall resists expansion of the cell, exerting a force called pressure potential Cell becomes full and stiff, a state called turgor In concentrated solutions water leaves cell by osmosis The cell therefore shrinks If lot of water is loss, cells loses its turgor and is said to be flaccid Volume of cell gets smaller and plasma membrane pulls away from the cell wall A cell in this state is said to be plasmolysed Active Transport Active Transport Active transport is the energy-consuming transport of molecules or ions across a membrane against a concentration gradient. Energy is required because the substance must be moved against its natural tendency to diffuse in the opposite direction. Movement is usually in one direction only, unlike diffusion which is reversible. The energy supplied in the form of a molecule known as ATP, which is an energy carrier made in respiration. Without respiration, active transport is therefore impossible. Active Transport The major ions inside cells and in their, are sodium ions (Na+), potassium ions (K+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. Sodium is actively pumped out of the cell and potassium is actively pumped in. Active transport is achieved by carrier proteins situated in the cell surface membrane. Unlike the situation described for facilitated diffusion, the carrier proteins involved in active transport need a supply of energy to keep changing shape. The energy is provided by ATP from respiration. Active Transport It has been shown that the cell surface membranes of most cells have sodium pumps that actively pump sodium ions out of the cell. In animal cells, the sodium pump is coupled
with a potassium pump which actively
moves potassium ions from outside to inside the cell. The combined pump is called the sodium-
potassium pump (Na+-K+ pump).
The pump is a carrier protein which spans
the membrane from one side to the other.
Active Transport On the inside it accepts sodium and ATP, while one the outside it accepts potassium. The transfer of sodium and potassium
across the membrane is brought about by
changes in the shape of the protein. Note that for every 2K+ taken into the cell,
3Na+ are removed.
Thus a potential difference is built up across
the membrane, with the inside of the cell
being negative. This tends to restrict the entry of negatively
charge ions (anions) such as chloride.
Active Transport The pump is essential in controlling the osmotic balance of animal cells (osmoregulation). If the pump is inhibited, the cell swells and
burst because a build-up of sodium ions
results in excess water entering the cells by osmosis. Active Transport ENDOCYTOSIS AND EXOCYTOSIS Endocytosis and exocytosis are active processes involving the bulk transport of materials through membranes, either into cells (endocytosis) or out of cells (exocytosis) Endocytosis Endocytosis occurs by an infolding or extension of the cell surface membrane to form vesicles or vacuole. It is of two types. Phagocytosis Pinocytosis Endocytosis
Phagocytosis (cell eating) material
taken up is in solid form. Cells specializing in the process are called phagocytes and are said to be phagocytic. For example, some white blood cells take up
bacteria by phagocytosis. The sac formed
during uptake is called a phagocytic vacuole. Pinocytosis (cell drinking)- material taken
up is in liquid form. Vesicles formed are
often extremely small, in which case the process is known as micropinocytosis and the vesicles as micropinocytotic vesicles.