KANESS (016-4573342 )

10, JLN TPT 10, TAMAN PUCHONG TEKALI,

47150, PUCHONG, SELANGOR
Chapter 2: Movement of substances across the plasma membrane
1. Substance that required (oxygen, water, mineral salt, amino acid) by the cell is transported from the
surrounding across the plasma membrane into the cell.
2. Waste product (carbon dioxide and other waste product) is removed from the cell across the plasma
membrane to the surrounding.
3. In 1972, S.J Singer and G. Nicolson proposed a plasma membrane model called fluid mosaic model which
comprised of phospholipids bilayer and various type of protein molecules.

4. Phospholipids molecules can drift laterally in the membrane

5. Amphipathic molecules mean has both hydrophilic region (attracted to water) and hydrophobic region
(repelled to water)

6. Only small and neutral molecules (water, oxygen carbon dioxide) and lipid soluble molecules can across the
membrane through phospholipids bilayer.
7. Bigger and charged molecule needs the help of transport protein to move across the membrane.
8. Function of transport protein:a)
Carrier protein has shape that fits the shape of specific molecules & can only carry specific
molecules
b)
Pore protein has pore as a passage for molecules to pass through
PASSIVE TRANSPORT OF SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE MEMBRANE
1. Movement of substances from region of higher concentration to lower concentration. The
molecules move down their concentration gradient so does not require energy.
2. Substances move across the membrane through 3 different ways:
a) lipid bilayer (simple diffusion)
b) pore protein (facilitated diffusion)
c) carrier protein (facilitated diffusion)

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
1. Movement of substances across the membrane down their concentration gradient until equilibrium
reached & no energy required.

2. At equilibrium, the molecules move back and forth but no net change
3. Substances that move across the membrane:
a) small uncharged molecules oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water
b) substances that dissolves in fats fatty acid, glycerol and vitamin(A,D,E and K)
4. The bigger the concentration gradient, the faster the rate of diffusion.
5. Example are exchange of gaseous at the alveolus in the lungs
OSMOSIS
1. Osmosis is the passive transport of water. In this process the water moves from region of higher
water concentration to the region of low water concentration.
2. Examples are the absorption of water by the root hairs of a plant.

FACILITATED DIFFUSION
1. Passive transport of substances across plasma membrane with the help of transport protein called
facilitated diffusion
2. It moves down concentration gradient without expending energy.
3. Solutes are transported by carrier protein (large uncharged molecules glucose & amino acid) or
pore protein (small charged molecules mineral ions).

PORE PROTEIN

CARRIER PROTEIN
4. Each carrier protein only moves specific molecules across the membrane.
5. The mechanism of carrier protein:a) Solutes move toward & bind at the binding site of specific carrier protein, then it triggers the carrier
protein to change it shape.
b) The carrier proteins change its shape and allow the solute to move across the membrane.
c) The carrier protein returns back to its original shape.
6. Solute can be transported in either direction but the net flow always down the concentration
gradient.
7. Examples are the absorption of glucose, amino acids, and mineral ions across villous at the ileum.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT OF SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE MEMBRANE
1. Movement of substances across the membrane from the region of low concentration to the region of high
concentration (against the concentration gradient). Therefore, the cell expends its own metabolic energy.
2. Active transport is performed by carrier protein and needs energy to change the shape of the carrier
protein.
3. The energy required is supplied by ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

4. Example is the intake of mineral ion by the root hair of the plant. Concentration of minerals ion is
higher in the root compared to the concentration in the soil. As the plant need the mineral ion, the
movement of mineral ion is against the concentration gradient and need energy is expended in
this transport.

COMPARISION OF PASSIVE TRANSPORT AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT

a)
b)
c)
a)
b)
c)
a)
b)
c)

1. In passive transport, the substances:Move down the concentration gradient

Does not require energy
Move through lipid bilayer, pore protein & carrier protein
2. In active transport, the substances:Moves against the concentration gradient
Require energy
Move through carrier protein
3. Passive transport:simple diffusion lipid bilayer Oxygen & carbon dioxide
Osmosis lipid bilayer water
Facilitated diffusion # carrier protein Glucose & amino acids
# pore protein Mineral ion
4. Active transport:-

a) active transport carrier protein Ions & molecules

Movement of substances across membrane in everyday life

1. HYPERTONIC solution with higher concentration of solutes compared to cell (low water concentration)
2. HYPOTONIC solution with lower concentration of solutes compared to cell (high water
concentration)
3. ISOTONIC solution with equal concentration of solutes with cell
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION OF SOLUTION ON PLANT CELL

1. Water diffuses into the cell by osmosis.

2. Vacuole gain water, expands & exerts pressure outward on the
cell wall. (turgor pressure)
3. This causes the plant to become turgid & provide mechanical support.

1. Example of hypertonic solutions is 30 % sucrose solution

2. Water molecules diffuse out of the cell by osmosis.
3. Water lost out of the vacuole & cytoplasm. Vacuole shrinks
& become smaller. Cytoplasm is pulled away from the cell wall.
4. This causes the plant to wilt.
5. This known as plasmolysis.
6. If plasmolysed plant cell is immersed in a hypertonic solution, it
undergoes deplasmolysis

1. Example of isotonic solutions is 5 % sucrose solution

2. There is no net movement of water across the membrane.
3. Flows of water in both directions at the same rate.
4. The volume shapes of plant remain constant.

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION OF SOLUTION ON RED BLOOD CELL

1. Examples are distilled water.

2. Water molecules diffuse into the cell by osmosis.
3. Cell gain water, swell and finally burst because no cell wall.
4. The cell undergoes haemolysis.

1. Examples are 4% sodium chloride (salt solution).

2. Water molecules diffuse out of the cell by osmosis
3. Water lost, the cell shrivel and die.
4. This known as crenation of red blood cell.

1. Examples are 0.85% sodium chloride.

2. Water flow across the membrane at the same rate.

APPLICATION OF OSMOSIS IN EVERYDAY LIFE

1.
Phenomenon of wilting
excess fertiliser causes the soil water to be hypertonic to the root cell of the plant
so, water diffuse out of the root cell. Plasmolysis occur cause the plant to wilt.
Water need to be given to the plant otherwise the plant dies.
2. Preservation of food.
a) preservation of fish
- fish is covered with salt and this becomes the hypertonic solution to the cells of the fish.
- so, water diffuse out of the cell by osmosis
- lack of water prevent growth of microorganism & this enables the salted fish to last longer.

b) preservation of fruits
- slices of fruits are immersed in concentrated sugar solution.
- this solution is hypertonic solution to the fruit cell.
- water diffuse out of the cell.
- lack of water prevent growth of microorganism & this enable the fruit last longer