Transport
Mechanisms of the
Cell
Learning Competencies
Describe the structural components of the cell
membrane.
Relate the structure and composition of the cell
membrane to its function.
Explain transport mechanisms in cells (diffusion,
osmosis, facilitated transport and active transport)
Differentiate exocytosis from endocytosis.
Homeostasis
For a cell to continue to live, its internal
environment must be kept within limits that the
cell can tolerate.
There is a constant flow of energy and matter
between the organism and the environment. The
substances inside living things are different from
those found around them.
Homeostasis
For a cell to stay alive, it must maintain the
concentration of certain chemicals like water,
sugar, proteins within limitations, depending upon
external factors.
Such regulating control, by which a constant
internal environment is maintained despite external
changes, is called Homeostasis.
Cell Membrane Structure
Composed of phospholipid molecules consisting of a
phosphate head which is hydrophilic (water-loving)
or soluble in water and a tail end which is
hydrophobic (water-fearing) or insoluble in water.
It is a selectively permeable or differentially
permeable membrane meaning not all materials or
substance an easily pass through the cell.
Cell Membrane Structure
Cell Membrane Structure
Fluid Mosaic Model
Developed in 1972 by cell biologists S.J.
Singer and G.L. Nicolson
According to this model, there are
various protein molecules embedded in
the phospholipid bilayer. The proteins in
the fluid mosaic model can move about or
drift across the membrane.
General Functions of the Cell
Membrane
It selectively isolates the cell’s
contents from the external
environment
It regulates the exchange of essential
substances between the cell’s contents
and the external environment.
It communicates with other cells.
Cell Membrane Structure
Transport of Materials Across
the Cell Membrane
Passive Transport
Active Transport
Bulk Transport
Passive Transport
When a cell uses NO ENERGY to move particles
across a membrane passive transport occurs
Particles go DOWN their concentration
gradient.
all DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS are passive
transport.
Plasma Concentration gradient
membrane
Diffusion
It is the net movement of MOLECULES
from an area of greater concentration to an
area of low concentration.
The difference between the concentration
of a particular molecule in one area and the
concentration of molecule in an adjacent
area is called a concentration gradient.
Diffusion
It is affected by several factors
like:
Size of diffusing molecules
Structure of the cell membrane
Concentration gradient
Temperature
Molecules move from high to low
Diffusion
move from HIGH to LOW concentration
Diffusion
Move from HIGH to LOW
concentration
passive transport
no energy needed diffusion of water
diffusion osmosis
Diffusion
Move from HIGH to LOW
concentration
directly through membrane
simple diffusion
no energy needed
help through a protein HIGH
channel
facilitated diffusion (with
help)
no energy needed
LOW
Simple Diffusion
Move from HIGH to LOW
fat
fat fat Which way
inside cell will fat move?
fat fat fat
LOW
HIGH
fat
outside cell fat fat
fat
fat fat fat
fat
Facilitated Diffusion
It is the movement of molecules through the
plasma membrane with the help of carrier
proteins or permeases which change its
shape when a molecule attaches to it.
Glucose and chloride ion move into the cell
using this type of transport and does not
require the expenditure of energy.
Facilitated Diffusion
Move from HIGH to LOW through a
channel (has a helper)
sugar sugar
sugar
sugar
inside cell sugar sugar
LOW
Which way will
sugar move?
HIGH
outside cell
sugar sugar
sugar
sugar sugar sugar sugar
Simple vs. facilitated diffusion
simple diffusion facilitated diffusion
lipid
inside cell inside cell H2O
protein channel
H2 O
outside cell outside cell
OSMOSIS: Diffusion of Water
The diffusion of water across a selectively
permeable membrane is called osmosis.
Regulating the water flow through the plasma
membrane is an important factor in maintaining
homeostasis within a cell.
Most cells whether in multicellular or unicellular
organisms, are subject to osmosis because they
are surrounded by water solutions.
Osmosis
Water is very important, so we talk
about water separately
diffusion of water from HIGH
concentration of water to LOW
concentration of water
across a semi-permeable membrane
What controls osmosis?
Unequal Before
After
distribution of Osmosis
Osmosis
particles, called a
concentration
gradient, is one Selectively
factor that permeable
membrane
Water molecule
Sugar molecule
controls osmosis.
Keeping water balance
Cell survival depends on balancing water
uptake & water loss
freshwater balanced saltwater
Osmosis is the passive transport
of water
In osmosis, water travels from an area of lower
solute concentration to an area of higher solute
concentration
Hypertonic: [hyper=above, over]
Solutions in which more solute present (concentrated
solution)
Hypotonic: [hypo= below, under]
Solutions in which less solute is present (dilute solution)
Isotonic: [ iso= equal]
Solutions have equal concentrations of substances
Cells in an isotonic solution
isotonic solution-
(= concentrations)
the concentration of H2 O
dissolved substances H2 O
in the solution is the
same as the
concentration of
dissolved substances Water Molecule
inside the cell
Dissolved Molecule
Cells in an isotonic solution
water molecules
move into and out
H2 O
H2 O
of the cell at the
same rate, and cells
retain their normal
shape.
Water
Molecule
Dissolved
Molecule
Cellular Structure and Function
Isotonic Solution
Water and dissolved substances diffuse into and
out of the cell at the same rate.
Plant Cell Blood Cell
11,397x
Cells in an isotonic solution
A plant cell has its
normal shape and
pressure in an
isotonic solution.
Keeping right amount of water in cell
That’s
better!
Balanced conditions (isotonic)
no difference in concentration
of water between cell &
environment
cell in equilibrium
example: blood
I could
problem: none be better…
water flows across membrane
equally,
in both directions
volume of cell doesn’t change
Cells in a hypotonic solution
hypotonic solution: dilute
solution thus low solute
concentration H2O
In a hypotonic solution,
H2O
water enters a cell by
osmosis, causing the cell
to swell.
Water
Molecule
Dissolved
Molecule
Cells in a hypotonic solution
Plant cells swell beyond
their normal size as
pressure increases.
(plants prefer this –it
makes the leaves firm)
Keeping right amount of water in cell
freshwater
KABOOM!
Freshwater -Hypotonic
a cell in fresh water
high concentration of water around cell
cell gains water
example: Paramecium
problem: cells gain water,
No problem,
swell & can burst here
water continually enters
Paramecium cell
solution: contractile vacuole
pumps water out of cell
Controlling water
Contractile vacuole in Paramecium
Cytolysis or Plasmoptysis
swelling and bursting of the cell due to
hypotonic environment.
Cells in a hypertonic solution
hypertonic solution:
concentrated solution,
thus a high solute
H2O
concentration H2O
In a hypertonic solution,
water leaves a cell by
osmosis, causing the Water
Molecule
cell to shrink
Dissolved
Molecule
Cells in a hypertonic solution
Plant cells lose
pressure as the
plasma membrane
shrinks away from
the cell wall.
PLASMOLYSIS
Cellular Structure and Function
Hypertonic Solution
Solute concentration is higher outside
the cell.
Water diffuses out of the cell.
Plant Cell Blood Cell
13,000x
Keeping right amount of water in cell
I’m shrinking, saltwater
I’m shrinking!
Saltwater -Hypertonic
a cell in salt water
low concentration of water
around cell
cell loses water
example: shellfish
problem: cell loses water I will
survive!
in plants: plasmolysis
in animals: shrinking cell
solution: take up water
Active Transport
Movement of materials through a
membrane against a concentration
gradient and requires energy from the
cell. Carrier
proteins
Plasma
membrane Concentration
gradient
Cellular
energy
Cellular energy
Active transport
Cells may need molecules to move against
concentration “hill”
need to pump “uphill”
from LOW to HIGH using
energy
protein pump
requires energy
ATP
ATP
How active transport occurs
a transport protein called a
carrier protein first binds with a
particle of the substance to be
transported.
Each type of carrier protein has a
shape that fits a specific molecule
or ion.
Carrier proteins vs channel proteins
CARRIER PROTEINS (also called carriers, permeases, or
transporters) bind the specific solute to be transported and
undergo a series of conformational changes to transfer the bound
solute across the membrane.
CHANNEL PROTEINS , in contrast, interact with the solute to
be transported much more weakly. They form aqueous pores that
extend across the lipid bilayer; when these pores are open, they
allow specific solutes (usually inorganic ions of appropriate size
and charge) to pass through them and thereby cross the
membrane.
Transport through channel proteins occurs at a much faster rate
than transport mediated by carrier proteins.
How active transport occurs through
CARRIER PROTEINS
Bulk Transport
Involves the movement of large and polar
molecules into and out of the cell
membrane.
It involves the formation of membrane-
bound sacs or vesicles that pinch off from
the cell membrane.
It includes endocytosis and exocytosis.
Exocytosis and endocytosis transport
large molecules *uses energy
Exocytosis [ exo = outside]
movement of large materials OUT of the cell
~a vesicle may fuse with the membrane and expel its
contents FLUID OUTSIDE
CELL
CYTOPLASM
Endocytosis [ endo = inside]
movement of large materials to INSIDE of
the cell
~membrane may fold inward, trapping
materials from the outside
Types of Endocytosis
Phagocytosis – “Cell Eating”, the cell
engulfs solid particles into much
larger vesicles.
Pinocytosis – “Cell Drinking”, the cell
engulfs droplets of fluid.
Types of Endocytosis
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis – the cell
membrane fold inward forming a pit lined with
receptor proteins which bind to specific type
of molecules. The coated pit then moves into
the cytoplasm. Cell in the liver remove excess
cholesterol by this transport mechanism.
