FACILITATED

DIFFUSION
 -THE MOVEMENT OF
MOLECULES ACROSS THE
CELL MEMBRANE WITH THE
HELP OF MEMBRANE
TRANSPORT
Facilitated diffusion
 PROPERTIES OF FACILITATED DIFFUSION
• Concentration gradient is required because it cannot transport molecules
from low to high concentration
• Energy is not needed
• Transport proteins are specific to the type of molecules they can
transport across the membrane
• The rate of transport reaches a maximum when all membrane transport
proteins are used up (saturation)
• Membrane transport proteins are sensitive to inhibitors that can cause
them not to function
 Channel Protein
• Contain tunnels or opening that serve
as passageways of molecules.
 Carrier Protein
• Undergo temporary binding to the
molecule, resulting in a conformational
change that moves the molecule
through the membrane
Peter
Agre
 Discovered water protein
channels called aquaporins
that allows water molecules to
rapidly diffuse into and out of
the cells found in areas with
high water influx.
Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) is present in the skin