Cells in Action

The Cell and its Environment

Cell
Membrane
– Like a secured space station,
cells have structures that
protect their contents from the
outside environment.
– Cell membrane is said to be a
semipermeable membrane
because it regulates substances
that goes into and out of a cell.
– The bilayer constitutes a
hydrophobic region of tails
(water-fearing) that face in and
a hydrophilic (water-loving)
region of heads that face out.
– The cell membrane is also described as a fluid mosaic. It is considered fluid
because the membrane exhibits properties that resemble a fluid in which lipids
and proteins can move relative to each others within the membrane. It is
described as a mosaic for having diverse proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrate
molecules embedded in its structure.
Transport of Molecules Across
Cell Membranes
 Transport of Molecules Across Cell
Membranes
The difference between the amount
There are three important
of molecules present at two regions
characteristics of molecules that
which determines the movement of
affect their ability to cross the cell
molecules is called concentration
membrane:
gradient.
• Size (macromolecules or
micromolecules)
• Charge (nonpolar or polar
molecules)
• Solubility (lipid-soluble molecules
or not)
Molecules found outside or inside
the cell can cross the cell
membrane in three ways:
• Passive transport – molecules
move along the concentration
gradient (high to low)
• Active transport – molecules
move against the concentration
gradient (low to high)
• Bulk transportation – from inside
to outside of cell (Endocytosis).
From outside to inside of cell
(Exocytosis)
 Different Ways of Molecule Movement Across the Cell Membrane

Name Direction Requirements Substances

From higher to lower Oxygen, carbon dioxide,

Simple Diffusion Osmosis Concentration gradient
Passive concentration water
Transport
From higher to lower Concentration gradient
Facilitated diffusion Sugars and amino acids
concentration and carrier protein

From lower to higher Carrier protein and Ions, sugars, amino

Active Transport Active transport
concentration energy (ATP) acids

Endocytosis • Bacteria, other cells

• Phagocytosis • Vacuoles and subcellular
From outside to inside of the
• Pinocytosis • Cell Vesicles materials
cell.
Bulk nor • Receptor-mediated • Pits with receptor • Macromolecules
Vesicular proteins • macromolecules
Transport
From inside to outside of the
Exocytosis Cell vesicles Macromolecules
cell
Simple Diffusion
Diffusion
– The natural process where molecules from the
air move from a point of greater
concentration to a point of lesser
concentration to attain equilibrium.
– Diffusion occurs because molecules are in
constant motion.
– Diffusion can also occur in a liquid medium.
 Diffusion

The diffusion of a solute within the solvent is affected by several factors:

– Temperature – Higher temperature results in a faster movement of molecules, thus,
faster rate of diffusion.
– Pressure – adding pressure like stirring results in faster rate of diffusion.
– Solvent density – the higher the density of the solvent, the slower the diffusion.
– Concentration gradient – the higher the concentration gradient, the faster the rate
of diffusion.
– Solute solubility – The more similar two substances are with each other, such as
polar solute in polar solvents or nonpolar solute in nonpolar solvent, the faster the
diffusion rate.
To be continued……