CELLULAR TRANSPORT

ASSIGNMENT NO 01

ZOO-123 CELL BIOLOGY

ROLL NO 23112041052

SEMESTER 3RD

SUBMITTED BY ;

SANIA WAHEED

SUBMITTED TO;

DR NADIA

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

RAWALPINDI WOMEN UNIVERSITY

 CELLULAR TRANSPORT

Cellular transport is a fundamental process that occurs within all living cells,allowing
molecules to move from one place to another across membranes.

DEFINATION

It is a process by which molecules ,such as ions,nutrients,and waste products move across the
membrane of a cell or between organelles within the cell.

MECHANISM

Several mechanism exist for cellular transport such as

1.Diffusion 2.osmosis

3.active transport 4.facilitated

IMPORTANCE

This process is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis,as it enables the transfer of
essential nutrients and waste products.

 Cellular nutrition

Transport mechanism allows cell to obtain essential nutrients from their environment and
distribute them to different parts of cell.

 Waste elimination

Cells can remove waste products and toxic substances from the cell through transport
mechanism.

DIFFUSION

Is a type of passive transport,meaning it does not required energy input from the cell
Definition

Diffusion,molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

until equilibrium is reached .This movement of molecules occur as a result of random
molecular motion.this process is called Simple Diffusion.

Diffusion is a spontaneous process,driven by a natural tendency of molecules to spread out

evenly within a space.

Importance

It plays crucial role in many biological process

 Nutrient uptake and waste removal.

Diffusion is essential for cell yo obtain nutrients needed for growth and function by
transporting molecules from the external environment in to the cell.it also enables cells to
remove waste products by excreting them to external environment.

 Homeostasis maintenance

Diffusion helps maintain substances to diffuse across membranes in one direction or

another,depending on the concentration gradient.
 Regulation of cellular metabolism

Diffusion enables the regulation of certain cellular metabolic process.it is essential for the
distribution of hormones ,neutrons.

For Example

Gas exchanges in lungs,absorption of nutrients in the digestive system ,and distribution of

hormones in the body. Most of the short distance transport takes place by simple diffusion.

FACILITATED DIFFUSION

The movement of molecules through the protein molecules from higher to lower
concentration is called facilitated diffusion.

Explanation

Polar molecules are not soluble in lipids. So they diffuse through protein channels pores.the
protein channel provide a continuous pathway for movement of specific molecules. Thud
these molecules never come in contact with the hydrophobic layer.

Large molecules and lipids insoluble molecules require assistance for their passage through
plasma membrane. Therefore,these molecules use facilitated diffusion.the facilitated
diffusion also does not require energy. A molecule temporarily binds with a carrier protein
in the plasma membrane. It is transported from an area of high concentration to are of lower
concentration.

Another kind of protein called channel protein also play role in facilitated diffusion.
Channel proteins from water filled pores across the membrane.these pores do not remain
open continuously. They have gates open for short time and then closed. Channel proteins
allow specific solutes like Ca,Na,K etc to pass through it.

IMPORTANCE

Facilitated diffusion plays crucial process in both plants and plants.such as

 Hormone transport

Facilitated diffusion helps in the movement of hormones ,such as insulin across cell
membrane

 Membrane potential maintenance

Facilitated diffusion helps maintain the membrane potential which is crucial for cell
homeostasis.

OSMOSIS

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher
concentration to lower concentration is called osmosis.
Osmosis is just a special type of diffusion

tonicity Is a Greek word derived from tonus means tention.A relative concentration of
solutes in the water inside and outside the cell is called tonicity.

There are three types of tonicity

1. Isotonic solution

In this case the solute concentration is the same inside and outside the cell.for example red
blood cell.the concentration of water molecules is also the same inside and outside the
cell.thus the water molecules move across the plasma membrane at the same rate in both
directions and there is no net movement of water in either direction.

2. Hyper tonic

In a solution the solute concentration is higher outside the cell then inside.because the
concentration of water molecules inside the cell is higher then outside ,water moves out of the
cell which shrinks.

3. Hypotonic solution

The solute concentration is lower outside the cell inside .thus the concentration of water
molecules is higher outside the cell then inside.As a result water moves into the cell .it may
cause bursting of cell.
FILTRATION

Is a process that force small molecules across selectively permeable with the aid of hydro
static (water) pressure (or some externally applied forces,such as blood pressure).

For Example

In the body of animal such as frog ,filtration is evident when blood pressure forces water and
dissolved molecules through permeable walls of small blood vessels called capillaries .in
filtration process, large molecules,such as proteins, do not through the smaller membrane
pores.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT

Active transport processes move molecules and other substances across a selectively
permeable membrane against a concentration gradient that is ,from an area of lower
concentration to an area of higher concentration .this movement against the concentration
gradient requires ATP energy.
MECHANISM

The active transport process is similar to facilitated diffusion except that the carrier protein
in the plasma membrane must use energy to move the molecules against the concentration
gradient.

 Sodium potassium pump

One active transport mechanism the sodium potassium pump helps maintain the high
concentrations of potassium ions and low concentration of sodium ions inside nerve cells that
are necessary for the transmission of electrical impulses.

 Calcium pump

An other active transport mechanism the calcium pump keeps the calcium concentration
hundreds of times lower inside the cell than inside.

ENDOCYTOSIS

The bulk movement of material into the cell by formation of vesicle is called endocytosis.

The movement of cell does not take place individually.there are three forms of endocytosis.
1. Pinocytosis

Also known as cell drinking.the non specific uptake of all droplets of extracellular fluid is
called pinocytosis.

Any small solid dissolved in the fluid is also taken into the cell.pinocytosis occurs when a
small portion of the plasma membrane invagination during pinocytosis.the open end of the
invagination joins to form a small vesicle.this tiny-vesicle detaches from the plasma
membrane and moves into the cytoplasm.

1. Phagocytosis

Also known as cell eating.the uptake of solid particles by invagination is called Phagocytosis.

It also form small vesicle called food vacuole lysosomes combines with the food vacuole to
form a phagolysosome (digestion vacuole).finally the lysosomal enzyme breaks down the
contents of vesicle.

Receptor mediate endocytosis

Involves a specific receptor protein on the plasma membrane.these receptors allow specific
molecules to move inside by endocytosis .A variety of important molecules such as
cholesterol are brought into cell by this process.Receptor mediate endocytosis is less common
in plants.

EXOCYTOSIS

The removal of cell secretions from the cells by out folding is called exocytosis.

The Golgi apparatus packs proteins into vesicles for secretion.

Vesicles fuse with membrane and release contents.

This process adds new membrane material, replacing lost plasma membrane.