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.