General Biology 1

G12 – STEM

GROUP 3
September 26 ( 1:21-2:20)
27 ( 1:21-2:20)
Biological Membranes
And Transport
• The membrane is an
plasma
surrounding envelop
the cell.
• It separates and protect the cell from
the external environment.
• Plasma membrane also provide a
connecting system between the cell and its
environment .
Detailed structure of the plasma membrane
• Chemical composition
• The membranes are composed of lipids,
protein and carbohydrates.
• The actual composition differ from tissue to
tissue.
• Among the lipids, amphipathic lipids
(containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic
groups) namely phospholipids, glycolipids and
cholesterol are found in animal membranes.
• Many animal cell membranes have thick coating
of complex polysaccharides referred to as
glycocalyx.
 Membrane is a collage of proteins & other molecules
embedded in the fluid matrix of the lipid bilayer

Glycoprotein Extracellular fluid

Glycolipid

Phospholipids
Cholesterol
Transmembran
Peripheral e proteins
protein
Cytoplasm Filaments
of
cytoskeleton
• Structure of membranes
• Fluid mosaic model proposed by Singer and
Nicolson is a more recent and acceptable model
for membrane structure.
• The biological membrane usually have a
thickness of 5 – 8 nm.
• A membrane is essentially composed of a lipid
bilayer.
• The hydrophobic (nonpolar) region of the lipids
face each other at core of the bilayer while the
hydrophilic (polar) region face outward.
 More than lipids…
• In 1972, S.J. Singer & G. Nicolson
proposed that membrane proteins are
inserted into the phospholipids bilayer

It’s like a fluid…

It’s like a mosaic…
It’s the
Fluid Mosaic
Model!
Phospholipids Phosphate

• Fatty acid tails

– hydrophobic
• Phosphate group
Fatty acid
head
– hydrophilic
• Arranged as a bilayer

Aaaah,
one of those
structure–function
examples
1. Extrinsic membrane proteins are loosely held
to the surface of the membrane and they can
be easily separated e.g. cytochrome c of
mitochondria.
2. Intrinsic membrane proteins are tightly
bound to the lipid bilayer and they can be
separated only by the use of detergent or
organic solvents e.g. hormone receptors.
 Membrane is a collage of proteins & other molecules
embedded in the fluid matrix of the lipid bilayer

Glycoprotein Extracellular fluid

Glycolipid

Phospholipids
Cholesterol
Transmembran
Peripheral e proteins
protein
Cytoplasm Filaments
of
cytoskeleton
• Transport across the membranes
• The biological membrane are
relatively impermeable.
• The membrane, therefore forms a barrier for
the free passage of compounds across it.
1. Passive diffusion
2. Facilitated diffusion
3. Active transport
 Passive transport
• Passive transport is the diffusion of
substances across a biological membrane.
• This occurs without the use of cellular energy.
2.Facilitated diffusion: This is somewhat
comparable with diffusion solute moves along
the concentration gradient (from higher to lower
concentration) and no energy is required.
• But the most important distinguishing feature is
that facilitated diffusion occurs through the
mediation of carrier or transport protein.
• Specific carrier protein for the transport of
glucose, galactose, leucine, phenylalanine etc.
have been isolated and characterized.
• Mechanism of facilitated diffusion: A ping pong
model is put forth to explain the occurrence of
facilitated diffusion.
• According to this mechanism, a transport protein
exists in two conformation, in the pong
conformation it is exposed to the side with high
solute concentration.
• This allow the binding of solute to specific sites on
the carrier protein.
• The protein then undergoes a conformational
change(ping state) to expose to the side with low
solute concentration where the solute molecule is
released.
• Insulin increases glucose transport in muscle and
adipose tissue.
3.Active transport: Active transport occurs
against a concentration gradient and this depend
upon the supply of metabolic energy (ATP).
• Active transport is also carrier mediated process
like facilitated diffusion.
• The most important primary Active transport
systems are ion pumps.
 Na+- K+ pump
 The cells have high K+
Concentration
intracellular and low Na+ concentration.
 This is essentially needed for survival of cell.
 High cellular K+ is required for the optimal
glycolysis (pyruvate kinase is depend upon K+)
and for protein biosynthesis.
 Further Na+ and K+ gradients across plasma
membrane are needed for the transmission of
nerve impulses.
• Na+-K+ pump is responsible for the
maintenance
of high k+ and low Na+ concentration in the cells.
• This is brought about by an integral plasma
membrane protein, namely the enzyme Na+-K+
ATPase.
• It consist of two α and two β subunits which may
be represented as [αβ]2 .
• Na+-K+ ATPase pump 3Na+ ions from inside the
cell to outside and bring 2k+ ions from outside to
inside with a concomitant hydrolysis of
intracellular ATP.
3Na+ (in)+ 2K+ ( out) +ATP 3Na+ (out)+ 2K+ (in)+ ADP+Pi
• Ouabain inhibit Na+-K+ ATPase pump.,
• Ouabain is a steroid derivative extracted
from the seed of an African Shrub.
• It is a poison used to tip the hunting arrows
by the tribal in Africa.
Transport summary
simple
diffusion

facilitated
diffusion

active AT
P
transport
 Transport system
1. Uniport system: This involves the movement of
a single molecule through the membrane. E.g.
transport of glucose to the erythrocytes.
2. Symport system: the simultaneous transport of
two different molecules in the same direction.
E.g. transport of Na+ and glucose to the
intestinal mucosal cells from the gut.
3. Antiport system: The simultaneous transport of
two different molecules in opposite direction e.g.
exchange of Cl- and HCO-3 in the erythrocytes.
• Proton pump in stomach
• This is an antiport transport system of gastric
parietal cells.
• It is brought out by the enzyme H+ - K+ ATPase
to maintain highly acidic condition in the lumen
of stomach.
• Proton pump antiport two cytoplasmic proton
(2H+) and two extracellular potassium (2K+)
ions for a molecule of ATP hydrolyzed.
• The chloride ions secreted by Cl- channel
combine with proton to form gastric HCl.
• Passive transport of water-osmosis.
• Osmosis is phenomenon of movement of water
from low osmotic pressure (dilute solution) to
high osmotic pressure (concentrated solution)
across biological membrane.
• The movement of water in body occurs through
osmosis, and this process does not require
energy.
• Certain medical and health complication are due
to disturbance in osmosis e.g. edema, cholera,
diarrhea, inflammation of tissue.
OSMOSIS
• Transport of macromolecules
• The transport of macromolecule such as protein,
polysaccharides and polynucleotide across the
membrane is equally important.
1. Endocytosis : Intake of macromolecules by the
cells.
• It is estimated that approximately 2% of the
exterior surface of plasma membrane possesses
characteristic Coated-pits.
• The pits can be internalized to form coated
vesicles which contain an unusual protein called
Clathrin.
• The uptake of LDL molecules by the cells is a
good example of endocytosis.
• Endocytosis when
occurs membrane is
the
pulled plasma and will
inwards
form a “pocket” around a
particular substance.
• The substance will become
enclosed in the vesicle
which is then pinched off
and begins moving through
the cytoplasm.
• Cells can bring in solids and
liquids using this process.
2.Exocytosis: Release of macromolecules from
the cells to outside.
• The release of macromolecules to the outside of
the cells mostly occurs via the participation of
Golgi apparatus.
• The macromolecules are transported to the
plasma membrane in a vesicles and let out.
• The secretion of hormone e.g. Insulin usually
occur by Exocytosis.
• Exocytosis is internal
vesicles will fuse with
the plasma membrane
and the contents of the
vesicle are released into
the
external
environment
• The of thecan
cell cell.
substances secrete
produced this waythey
or excrete waste
products.
Diffusion
 Active transport
• The movement of a substance across a
biological membrane against its
concentration or electrochemical gradient
with the help of energy input and specific
transport proteins.
• This movement of particles occurs against
the concentration gradient or from an area of
low concentration to an area of high
concentration with the use of ATP.
Active Transport
 Pinocytosis
• A type of endocytosis
in which the cell
ingests extracellular
fluid and its dissolved
substances.
 10. Use the sodium-potassium pump to explain how active transport
can be used to move particles against a concentration gradient.

• The cell can hydrolyze ATP and use the energy

released to move substances across the plasma
membrane and against the concentration gradient.
The energy is used to change the shape of membrane
protein “pumps”.
• Each pump only transports particular substances.
10. Use the sodium-potassium pump to explain how active transport can be
used to move particles against a concentration gradient.

• The particle will enter the pump on the side with a

lower concentration and bind to a specific site for that
type of particle.
• Energy from ATP is used to change the shape of the
pump, the particle is released on the side of higher
concentration, and the pump returns to its original
shape.
 9. Compare active and passive transport.

• Passive transport is the diffusion of

particles across a biological membrane.
This occurs without the use of cellular
energy.
 9. Compare active and passive transport.

• Active Transport is the movement of particles

across biological membranes using energy
from ATP. This movement of particles
occurs against the concentration gradient or
from an area of low concentration to an area
of high concentration.
 How about large molecules?
• Moving large molecules into & out of
cell
– through vesicles & vacuoles
– endocytosis
• phagocytosis = “cellular eating”
• pinocytosis = “cellular drinking”
– exocytosis

exocytosis
Transport summary
simple
diffusion

facilitated
diffusion

active AT
P
transport
 Membrane Proteins
• Proteins determine membrane’s specific functions
– cell membrane & organelle membranes each have
unique collections of proteins
• Membrane proteins:
– peripheral proteins
• loosely bound to
surface of
membrane
• cell surface
identity marker
(antigens)
– integral proteins
• penetrate lipid
bilayer, usually
Select the correct answer.

1. The cell membrane is selectively permeable, which means...

a. All materials can enter and leave the cell
b. Certain things can enter while others cannot
c. The cell manually sorts through all materials
d. Only certain cells can interact with the cell.
2. Most of the cell membrane is made of...
a. Lipids c. Carbs
b. Proteins d. Nucleic acids
3. Which of the following is NOT part of the cell membrane?
a. Lipids c. Carbs
b. Proteins d. Nucleic Acids
4. Lipid tails are...
a. Nonpolar b. Polar
5. When looking at the cell membrane, where are the lipid tails located?
a. Inner part of the bilayer c. Outer part of the bilayer
b. At the end of the bilayer d. Goes through each end of the bilayer
6. A cell will __________________ in a hypotonic solution.
a. swell and perhaps burst (lyse) c. shrink
b. the size of the cell will not change d. the size of the cell will change from
large to small and from small to large
7. The membrane of a cell is depicted as mosaic because it
a. folds itself into a double layer when placed into polar surroundings
b. does not hold the characteristics of a solid substance
c. is composed of many different kinds of macromolecules
d. moves proteins laterally through the entire length of a cell
8. The plasma membrane is ...
a. selectively permeable c. very permeable
b. not permeable d. rarely permeable
9. The cell membrane is solid and rigid
a. True b. False
10. Which of the following is moved across the plasma membrane by facilitated
diffusion?
a. Water c. glucose
b. carbon dioxide d. oxygen
11. he concentration of water is higher in the soil than in plant root cells. Water
moves into root cells of a plant by..
a. Facilitated Diffusion c. Simple Diffusion
b.Active Transport d. Osmosis
12. Molecules diffusing with the concentration gradient (from high to low concentration)
through a protein channel is...
a. Facilitated Diffusion c. Simple Diffusion
b. Active Transport d. Osmosis
13. Exocytosis is a
a. type of passive transport c. type of mitosis
b. type of diffusion d. type of active transport
14. Carbon Dioxide is in high concentration in the body cells and moves with the
concentration gradient (from high to low concentration) into the blood stream by this
process...
a. Facilitated Diffusion c. Simple Diffusion
b. Active Transport d. Osmosis
15. A person should never drink salty water because their cells would
a. Shrink b. expand