CHAPTER 3: MOVEMENT OF

SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE

PLASMA MEMBRANE

3.1 Analyzing the

Movement of Substances
Across Plasma
Membrane.
 Substances Required by Cells and
Substances Eliminated from Cell.

 Cells need oxygen, water, mineral salts, sugar,

amino acids and other nutrients to survive.

 Carbon dioxide and other waste products need

to be eliminated from the cells.
 Substances Required by Cells and
Substances Eliminated from Cell.
 All living cells carry out metabolism to stay alive.
 Metabolism process:
i) Anabolism – building up of molecules. Examples
are the syntheses of proteins and ATPs, which a cell
needs.
ii) Catabolism – the breaking down of large
molecules to smaller ; simpler molecules. An
examples is the oxidation of glucose in cell
respiration.
 To ensure metabolism process occur, cells need to
absorb nutrients and oxygen.
 Substances that Enters the Cell
Substances Reason for intake
Oxygen •For cell respiration
(animal cell)
Carbon dioxide •A raw material in photosynthesis
(plant cell)
Glucose •For cell respiration.
Amino acids •Raw materials for protein
synthesis
Ionic salts •For cell metabolism and
osmoregulation
 Substances that Leaves the Cell
Substances Reason of removal
Carbon dioxide •A waste product of respiration
(animal cell)
Oxygen •A waste product of photosynthesis
(plant cell)
Secretions •Are cellular products for use in
other parts of the body.
Nitrogenous waste •Are waste products from
breakdown of excess proteins
Excess water •Osmoregulation
 Necessity for Movement of Substances
Across the Plasma Membrane

 Obtain nutrients for metabolism.

 Excrete metabolic waste.

 Maintain concentration of ions that are suitable

for cell activities.

 Maintain the optimal pH value.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Plasma membrane composed of phospholipids
molecules – basic unit
 Phospholipid molecule consists of :
 Polar head (hydrophilic property)
 Non-polar tails (hydrophobic property)
 Phospholipid arrange themselves in double
layer called phospholipid bilayer.
 Fluid Mosaic Model

 Suggested by Singer and Nicolson (1972)

 Composed of phospholipids bilayer and proteins.
 The structure is not rigid or static
 Dynamic and flexible
 Fluid - The proteins are free to move. HOW?
 Mosaic - Because the proteins are embedded in the
phospholipid bilayer like mosaic tiles embedded in
mortar.
 Contains cholesterol that helps to stabilise
and strengthen the plasma membrane.

 Contains protein that partially embedded in

the membrane, totally embeded and
peripheral protiens.
 Channel protien @ pore protein and carrier
proteins – assists and control the movement
of water soluble ion across the membrane.
 Proteins that have carbohydrates attached –
glycoproteins - helps cells to recognize
each other.
 Glycolipid (proteins + carbohydrates) – cell
identity markers.
 VIDEO
 The Permeability of the Plasma
Membrane

 Plasma membrane – selectively permeable, certain

substances can move freely in and out of the cell
while others cannot.
 The movement of substances across plasma
membrane depends on:
 Size
 Polarity of molecules.
 The Permeability of the Plasma
Membrane
Structure of Plasma Examples of Substances that Move
Membrane Across the Plasma Membrane
Phospholipid bilayer •Lipid-soluble molecules: fatty acids,
glycerol and vitamin A, D, E, K.
•Non-polar molecules : Oxygen and
carbon dioxide
•Small molecules : water
Pore protein •Small water – soluble molecules and
ions
e.g: K+, Na+, Ca+.
Carrier protein •Large water-soluble molecules: glucose
and amino acids
Next topic:
 The movement of substances across the plasma
membrane
 Active transport
 Passive transport
 Simple diffusion
 Osmosis
 Facilitated diffusion
 CLASS ACTIVITY.