Chapter 5

Membrane
Transport
and
Cell Signaling
 MEMBRANE STRUCTURE
• A mixture of different proteins embedded in the fluid
matrix of the lipid bilayer
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Fig. 5.2
 CELL MEMBRANES
• Selective permeability
• Fluid mosaic model
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Fig. 5.3/5.4/5.5
 MEMBRANE FUNCTION
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* Substances move across the * Chemical reactions necessary *An outside signal creates an
membrane (in or out) for cell survival intracellular response and
* With or without help * ATP synthesis changes cell activities

Fig. 5.7
 MEMBRANE FUNCTION
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* WBCs need to recognize * For cells within a

damaged or cancerous cells to single tissue (pancreas)
kill them (cytotoxic T cells) * Hold cells/tissues in correct
position in body

Fig. 5.7
 BLOCKING HIV INFECTION
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 DIFFUSION
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 The tendency of molecules of any substance to

spread out in the available space
Fig. 5.10
 DIFFUSION
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 A substance will diffuse down its own [ ] gradient

independent of gradients of other substances
Fig. 5.10
 COMPARING TWO SOLUTIONS
• Differences in the relative [ ] of dissolved
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particles in two solutions:

– The solution with the higher concentration of

particles is hyperosmotic

– The solution with the lower concentration of

particles is hypoosmotic

– Solutions with equal particle concentrations are

isosmotic
 COMPARING SOLUTIONS
• Solution A: 1M glucose
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• Solution B: 2M glucose
• Solution C: 1M starch

A B C
 OSMOSIS
• Diffusion of water
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across a selectively
permeable M

Fig. 5.11
 LHS RHS
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5M 5M
sucrose sucrose

This artificial M is only permeable to H2O.

What happens?
 H2O BALANCE IN A CELL
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Fig. 5.12
 TRANSPORT PROTEINS
• These types of proteins transport molecules across a
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membrane
– Otherwise, that M would be impermeable to those molecules

• Passive movement of molecules down a [ ] gradient

using transport proteins is Facilitated Diffusion
• Active movement of molecules against a [ ] gradient
using transport proteins is Active Transport
 CHANNEL PROTEINS
• Provide a corridor allowing a specific
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molecule or ion to cross the M

Fig. 5.14a
 NON-CHANNEL PROTEINS
• A translocating solute-binding site that moves a solute
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across the M as the protein changes shape

Fig. 5.14b
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT
• Moving solutes against their [ ] gradient, from
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the side where they are less [ ] to the side

where they are more [ ]
• Requires energy
• This is critical for maintenance of a cell’s
internal [ ] of small molecules that would
otherwise diffuse across the M
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT EXAMPLE
• A sodium-potassium pump maintains a
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gradient of Na+ and K+ ions across the M

– Typically, an animal cell has higher [K+] and
lower [Na+] inside the cell
– The sodium-potassium pump uses the
energy of one ATP to pump 3 Na+ ions out
and 2 K+ ions in
• ATP energizes its protein carriers
• Primary active transport
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Fig. 5.15
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Fig. 5.16 Both diffusion and facilitated diffusion are forms of passive transport
of molecules down their [ ] gradient, while active transport requires an
investment of energy to move molecules against their [ ] gradient.
 PROTON PUMP
• A transport protein that actively pumps protons across the
membrane
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– Gradient generators
• Electrogenic pump (generates voltage across the M)
– proton pump in plants, fungi and bacteria

Fig. 5.17
 CO-TRANSPORT
• Uses an ATP-powered pump that transports a
specific solute
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• Indirectly drives the active transport of other

solutes

Fig. 5.18
 ENDOCYTOSIS
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Fig. 5.19
 RME EXAMPLE:
 Cholesterol enters cells from the blood via LDL (low density
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lipoprotein) receptors
* Apolipoprotein B (APO B) – LDL; from liver to body cells
* Apolipoprotein E (APO E) – HDL; goes to liver for removal

Fig. 5.20
 CELL SIGNALING
• Essential for multicellular organisms
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• Universal mechanisms of cellular regulation

• Cells may receive a variety of signals

– Chemical
– Electromagnetic
– Mechanical signals
 RECEPTOR TYPES
• Cell surface receptor proteins
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• Bind ligand; often hydrophilic

• Generates an intracellular response
 RECEPTOR TYPES
• Intracellular receptor proteins
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• Signal molecule is usually small and hydrophobic

• Ligand must enter cell
 TYPES OF SIGNALING
• DIRECT CONTACT:
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Biology 1205
TYPES OF SIGNALING

Paracrine Synaptic

Fig. 5-21 a, b
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TYPES OF SIGNALING

Endocrine (hormonal)
Fig. 5-21 c
 SIGNAL EFFECTS ON A CELL
• Selective response
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– Stasis
– Proliferate
– Specialize

• Inadequate signaling
received
 CELL SIGNALING STAGES
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Amplification of signal

 Enzymes activated
 Cytoskeleton
rearrangement
Fig. 5-22  Gene transcription
 PROTEIN RECEPTORS

• Plasma Membrane receptors:

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– aka: transmembrane receptor proteins

– aka: cell surface receptor proteins
– G-protein coupled receptors (GRCR)
– Ion-channel receptors

• Intracellular receptors
 G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTOR (GPCR)
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• A receptor protein
associates with G-protein
on its cytoplasmic side
 THE G-PROTEIN SYSTEM
• GPCR is activated
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• Active GPCR binds to an inactive G protein

• Active G protein binds with membrane protein

Fig. 5.23
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 G-Protein Signaling Pathway
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Adrenaline
 Increase force and rate of
cardiac muscle contraction
 Binds to liver cells to
increase blood glucose
levels

Fig. 5.27
 G-Protein Signaling Pathway
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 ION CHANNEL
RECEPTORS
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• Protein channels respond to

a chemical signal
• Ligands binds, channel opens
• Ligand dissociates, channel
closes

Fig. 5.22
 INTRACELLULAR RECEPTORS
• A chemical messenger must travel
through the blood and enter cells
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– Hormones

• In the cytoplasm it activates

receptor proteins

• Complex enters the nucleus

– It acts as a transcription factor

Fig. 5.25
 Nuclear Response to an Extracellular Signal
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Fig. 5.28
 Cytoplasmic response to an extracellular
signal
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Fig. 5.26
 ONE SIGNAL – DIFFERENT RESPONSES
GPCR Ligand-gated
Ion Channel
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GPCR
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