ACTIVE

TRANSPORT

Cristine R. Salvacion
Active Transport
- cellular transport that requires the
use of the cell’s energy, usually in the
form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

- used when a substance must move

against its concentration gradient.

- move small molecular-weight

materials
Electrochemical Gradient
Concentration Gradient - a physical
space in which there is a range of
concentrations of a single substance

Electrical Gradient – a difference of

charge
The combined gradient of concentration and
electrical charge that affects the ion is called
its ELECTROCHEMICAL GRADIENT
Moving against a gradient
Active transport mechanisms or Pumps

– work against electrochemical

gradients

- maintains concentrations of ions and

other substances needed by living cells
Carrier Proteins or Transporters

- pumps coupled to an energy source to

facilitate movement

- three types:
UNIPORTER – carries one specific ion or
molecule
SYMPORTER – carries two different ions or
molecules in the same direction
ANTIPORTER – carries two different ions or
molecules in different directions
PRIMARY ACTIVE TRANSPORT

- directly uses a source of chemical energy to

move molecules across a membrane against their
gradient

- One of the most important pumps in animal

cells is the sodium-potassium pump (Na ^+-K ^+
ATPase, which moves Na^+ out of cells, and
K^+into them (ratio of 3 Na^+ for every 2 K^+.
Sodium-potassium pump is therefore an
electrogenic pump (creates a charge
imbalance)
Process:
1. Enzyme is oriented towards the interior of
the cell. With high affinity for Na+, 3 ions
bind to the protein

2. ATP is hydrolyzed by the carrier and low-

energy phosphate group attach to it.

3. Carrier reshape and re-orients towards the

exterior of the membrane. Affinity decreases
and Na+ leave the carrier.
4. Affinity for K+ increases and 2 ions
attach to the protein. The low-energy
phosphate group detaches.

5. The carrier repositions towards the

interior of the cell.

6. Affinity for K+ decreases and the 2

ions are released.
SECONDARY ACTIVE TRANSPORT
(Co-transport)
- The electrochemical gradients set up by
primary active transport store energy, which
can be released as the ions move back down
their gradients. Secondary active transport
uses the energy stored in these gradients to
move other substances against their own
gradients.
BULK
TRANSPORT
Bulk Transport
- remove and take in larger molecules and
particles.

ENDOCYTOSIS
- moves particles, such as large
molecules, parts of cells, and even whole
cells, into a cell
- For some process, CLATHRIN is needed
but some are CLATHRIN INDEPENDENT.
- Plasma membrane invaginates, forming a
pocket around the target particle and
pinches off, resulting in the particle being
contained in a newly created intracellular
vesicle formed from the plasma membrane.
Phagocytosis
- condition of “cell eating”

- a portion of plasma membrane

becomes coated with clathrin and
extends to surround the particle,
closing it. The clathrin disengages and
the vesicle merges with a lysosome to
breakdown the material. The endosome
merges with the membrane and
releases its content.
Pinocytosis
- “cell drinking”
- takes in molecules, including water
needed by the cell
- vesicle does not merge with lysosome
Potocytosis
- uses caveolin (coating protein)
- bring small molecules into the cell and
transport for release (process called
transcytosis)
Receptor-mediated
Endocytosis
- employs receptor proteins in the plasma
membrane that have a specific binding
affinity for certain substances
- clathrin is attached to the cytoplasmic
site of plasma membrane.
- other substances may gain entry at the
same site
EXOCYTOSIS

- expel material from the cell

- waste material enveloped in a

membrane fuses with the interior
of plasma membrane. This fusion
opens the membranous envelope
on the exterior of the cell and
waste material is expelled.