Chapter 3: Movement of Substances

Across The Plasma Membrane

WATER
Hydrophilic
head
Hydrophobic
tail

WATER
3.1 The Movements of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane

1. The movement of substances in and out of cells occurs across plasma membrane.
2. The Plasma Membrane: is a semi-permeable lipid bilayer found in all cells that
controls water and certain substances in and out of the cell.
3. Function of the Plasma Membrane:

-Protects the cell.

-Separates the intracellular components from the extracellular
environment.
-Controls what enters and exits the cell

4. Necessities for the Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane:

-To transport nutrients into the cell.

-For gases exchange.
-To excrete metabolic waste.
-To maintain the pH value and ionic concentration of the cell.
 The Structure of Plasma Membrane and Its Components

Glycoprotein

Carbohydrate

Glycolipid
EXTRACELLULAR
SIDE OF
MEMBRANE

Microfilaments
of cytoskeleton Cholesterol Peripheral
Integral
Protein
Protein
(hanya sebahagian drpd. badan protein CYTOPLASMIC
(seluruh badan
yg terbenam dlm. Phospholipid bilayer) SIDE
protein terbenam
dlm. Phospholipid OF MEMBRANE
Glycoprotein = Carbohydrate+Protein
bilayer)
Glycolipid = Carbohydrate+Lipid
 Hydrophilic head Hydrophobic tail

Phospholipid
bilayer

Lateral movement
Flip-flop
(~107 times per second) (~ once per month)

(a) Movement of phospholipids

 The Structure of Plasma Membrane

5. The plasma membrane consists mainly of phospholipids and proteins.

6. Each phospholipid molecules consist of 2 parts:
-a polar hydrophilic head (hydro=water, philic=love)
-a non-polar hyrophobic tail (hydro=water, phobic=hate)
7. In plasma membrane, phospholipids are arranged in 2 layers called phospholipid
bilayer.
8. The plasma membrane display the fluid mosaic model (FMM).
9. FMM:
- phospholipids, proteins and other components of membrane are not rigid or
static.
- the protein molecules float freely in phospholipid bilayer.
-the proteins and phospholipids can move side-by-side within membrane. It
shows fluid characteristic.
10. Contains cholesterol  stabilize and strengthen plasma membrane
11. Pore/channel protein  forms channel/pore
12. Carrier protein  acts as carrier
13. Glycoprotein  protein with carbohydrate attached
Act as cell-cell recognition
14. Glycolipid lipid with carbohydrate attached
14. The plasma membrane = semi-permeable/partially permeable = certain substances can
move in/out of the cell.
15. Membranes that envelope nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplast are semi-permeable.
16. Other example of semi-permeable membrane: Visking tube, cellophane tape, egg
membranes.
15. The permeability of the phospholipids bilayer is determined by:
- the size
- the charge and
- the polarity
of the substances pass through it.
Two ways of the Movement of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane

Movement of Substances
Across The Plasma Membrane

Passive Transport ActiveTransport

Molecules transported
Molecules transported
against (berlawanan)
down the concentration gradient
the concentration gradient

Simple Diffusion Osmosis Facilitated Diffusion

16. What is passive transport?

- Passive transport is the movement of substances across the cell membrane without the use of
energy by the cell.

- During passive transport, substances move down their concentration gradient, hence no
energy is required.

- Passive transports can happen through three different channels, namely

a) lipid bilayer
b) pore/channel protein
c) carrier protein

17. What is diffusion?

- Diffusion is the movement of molecules/ions from a high concentration region to a low

concentration region.
- No energy is needed and no membrane involves in diffusion.

18. What is “down the concentration gradient”?

- is the difference in the concentration of a substances between 2 regions.
19. Particles that Move Through the Plasma Membrane Through Diffusion
- Substances soluble in fat: fatty acid, glycerol, some vitamins (A,D,E,K)
- Neutral particles: water, oxygen, carbon dioxide,

20. Examples of Simple Diffusion:

- gaseous exchange in alveolus and blood capillary
- gaseous exchange through stomata of leaves during photosynthesis
- gaseous exchange in unicellular organism such as Amoeba sp.

21. The Dynamic Equilibrium

- Diffusion will continue until the concentration in all region is the same.
- When this happen, we say it has reached the dynamic equilibrium.
22. Factors Affecting the Rate of Diffusion (How fast diffusion happens)
 Water Molecules=Solvent (Pelarut)

=Solutes (Benda yg dilarutkan)

(a)
(b)
(c)
(a) 1st, the sugar is concentrated in 1 area. (d)
(b) The sugar and water molecules move randomly in all direction.
(c) The random movements results in net movements of both molecules;
from region of high concentration to region of low concentration,
down the concentration gradient.
(d) The sugar molecule finally evenly dispersed (tersebar rata).
This stage is called a dynamic equilibrium.
23. What is Osmosis?
- Osmosis is the diffusion of a water through a semi-permeable membrane, from a region of
low solute concentration to a region with high solute concentration
( or high [water] to low [water] )

Important Points:
• It is the diffusion of water (normally) through a semi-permeable membrane.
• It is from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution.
• NO ENERGY REQUIRED (TAK PERLU TENAGA).
• Water molecules move through phospholipid bilayer and pore protein.

DILUTE SOLUTION = HIGH CONCENTRATION OF WATER = LOW CONCENTRATION OF

SOLUTES (bhn. yg. dilarutkan)

CONCENTRATED SOLUTION = LOW CONCENTRATION OF WATER = HIGH

CONCENTRATION OF SOLUTES (bhn. yg. dilarutkan)

24. Examples of Osmosis:

- Absorption of water from soil solution by plant root hairs.
- Reabsorption of water by kidney tubules.
- Osmoregulation in aquatic organisms.
 Lower Higher
concentration concentration
Equal The Mechanism of Osmosis:
concentration
of solute of solute of solute
(a) - the left side of u-tube
contains high [water], low [solutes].
- the right side of u-tube contains
H2O
low [water], high [solutes].
Solute - between left and right side of
molecule u-tube is semi permeable
membrane.
Selectively
permeable
- water molecules move in
membrane both directions.
Water molecules move from a
Water region of high [water] at the left
molecule
side to a region of low [water] at
the right side.
- as water flows from left to right,
the osmotic pressure is created
within right side of u-tube.
- since water molecules can
pass through semi permeable
membrane but not sugar molecules,
the level of the solution at
Solute molecule with the right side of u-tube rises.
cluster of water molecules
Net flow of water
(b) A dynamic equilibrium is reached.
25. What is Facilitated Diffusion?
- Facilitated diffusion is the movement of hydrophilic molecules or ions across the plasma
membrane with the help of transport proteins.
- It moves down the concentration gradient.

26. What Substances Can Pass through the Plasma Membrane through Facilitated Diffusion?
Particles undergo facilitated diffusion are the particles that cannot diffuse through the
phospholipid bilayer such as:
• Large particles such as glucose, amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids
• Some ions such as the sodium ions and chloride ions

27. Facilitated diffusion occurs through 2 types of transport protein, namely:

• Channel/Pore Protein
• Carrier Protein

28. Examples of Facilitated Diffusion:

- Movement of small molecules such as glucose and amino acids into the blood capillaries
of the villi.
Channel/Pore Proteins:
-Provide corridors (lorong/laluan) that allow a specific molecule or ion to
cross the membrane.

EXTRACELLULAR
FLUID
(Outside the cell)

Channel protein
Solute
(Inside the cell)
CYTOPLASM

(a) A channel protein (purple) has a channel through which

water molecules or a specific solute can pass.
Carrier Proteins:
- Undergo a subtle change in shape that translocates the solute-binding
site across the membrane.

Solute
Carrier protein

(b)
A carrier protein alternates between two conformations, moving a
solute across the membrane as the shape of the protein changes.
The protein can transport the solute in either direction, with the net
movement being down the concentration gradient of the solute.
 THE MECHANISM of CARIER PROTEINS IN
FACILITATED DIFFUSION

1. The solute moves to the binding site of the

specific carrier protein.
2. The solute binds to the carrier protein at the
binding site & triggers (mendorong) the
carrier protein to change its shape.
3. The carrier protein changes its shape &
moves the solute across the membrane.
4. The carrier protein returns back to its
original shape.
29. What is Active Transport?
- Active transport is the movement of molecules/ions across the plasma membrane of cells
against (berlawanan) the concentration gradient (From lower concentration to higher
concentration).
- Since it is against the concentration gradient, energy is needed in the process.

30. Basic Requirements (keperluan) in Active Transport:

• Presence of the carrier protein (carrier proteins in active transport often called as PUMPS)
• Presence of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

31. Function of the ATP:

- ATP is the source of energy in active transport. It supplies energy to the carrier protein to carry
out the process. It is converted into ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) after the reaction.

32. Active transport results in the accumulation and elimination of molecules/ions from the cell.

33. Examples of Active Transport

- Intake of mineral salts and ions by the root hairs of a plant.
- The movement of sodium ions into the cells lining the kidney tubules.
- The accumulation (pengumpulan) of iodine in the cells of the thyroid gland.
 Mechanism of Active Transport
The diagram below is one type of active transport system which shows how sodium ions and
potassium ions are transported through the plasma membrane by a carrier protein.
1. Cytoplasmic Na+ ions binds to [Na+] high
the sodium-potassium pump. [K+] low
Na+ Na+
2
Na+ 2. Na+ ions binding stimulates (mendorong)
•The shape of sodium-potassium Na+

Na+ Splitting (memisah) ATP to ADP + P

pump allows it to take up
[Na+] low to RELEASE ENERGY.
3 sodium ions at a time. Na+ P
ATP

CYTOPLASM [K+] high ADP

Na+
Na+

6. K+ ions is released and Na+ Na+ 3. The one phosphate group attach to
sites are receptive again; the carrier protein.
the cycle repeats. K+
Energy from the ATP, changes the shape
of carrier protein, and expelling
P
K+
(mengeluarkan) Na+ ions to the outside.

K+

5. Loss of the phosphate 4. Extracellular K+ ions binds to the

restores (mengembalikan) K+
Carrier protein and stimulates the release
the protein’s K+
K+
of the Phosphate group.
original shape.
P
P
Review: Passive and active transport compared
Passive transport. Substances diffuse spontaneously
down their concentration gradients, crossing a
membrane with no expenditure of energy by the cell.
The rate of diffusion can be greatly increased by transport
proteins in the membrane.
Active transport. Some transport proteins act as
pumps, moving substances across a membrane
against their concentration gradients. Energy for
this work is usually supplied by ATP.

ATP

Diffusion. Hydrophobic
Facilitated diffusion. Many hydrophilic
molecules and (at a slow
substances diffuse through membranes with
rate) very small uncharged
the assistance of transport proteins,
polar molecules can diffuse through the
either channel or carrier proteins.
lipid bilayer.
 Characteristics Passive Transport Active Transport

Types of transport Simple Diffusion Facilitated Diffusion Osmosis Active Transport

Ways of transport Transport of substances across the plasma membrane.

Need concentration gradient (or difference in the concentration of substances) between
extracellular cell and intracellular cell.
Concentration Follow concentration gradient Against concentration
gradient gradient

Cellular energy; ATP Cellular energy; ATP IS NOT REQUIRED Cellular energy; ATP
IS REQUIRED

Outcome of the Until an equilibrium is reached Depends on the cells

process requirement (no need
to reach an
equilibrium)
Occurs in Non-living & living organisms Living organisms only

Molecules which can Lipid- soluble Large molecules Water only Specific ions usually
pass through molecules (vitamins (glucose, amino sodium ions (Na+) and
A,D,E,K, fatty acids, acids), specific ions. potassium ions (K+)
glycerols), small
molecules (H2O),
dissolved gases (O2,
CO2).
3.2 The Movements of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane in Everyday Life
1. What is Hypotonic Solution?
Hypotonic solution is the solution with a lower solute concentration. (Hypo=less).

2. Water Concentration and Solute Concentration of a Cell in a Hypotonic Solution:

Water concentration: Water concentration inside the cell is lower than outside the cell.
Solute Concentration: Solute concentration inside the cell is higher than outside the cell.

3. What is Isotonic Solution?

In isotonic solutions, both solutions have equal concentration of solutes. (iso=same).

4. Water Concentration and Solute Concentration of a Cell in a Isotonic Solution

Water concentration and solute concentration are equal in both solutions.

5. What is Hypertonic Solution?

Hypotonic solution is the solution with a higher solute concentration. (Hyper=more).

6. Water Concentration and Solute Concentration of a Cell in a Hypertonic Solution

Water concentration: Water concentration inside the cell is higher than outside the cell.
Solute Concentration: Solute concentration inside the cell is lower than outside the cell.
7. The movement of water across plasma membrane is determine by the concentration of the
substances in the interstitial fluid which bathes (membasahi) cells.

8. Since living cells need to be in the stable internal environment, the interstitial fluid of animal
cells is usually isotonic to the cytoplasmic fluid within the cells.

WHY MUST BE ISOTONIC?

To ensure the shape of the cell remains same and prevent the cells
from shrinking (mengecut) or swelling (mengembung).

Cytoplasmic fluid

A portion of internal environment

Cells

Interstitial fluid
 Animal & plant cells in
Isotonic solutions
9. If an animal cell such as red blood cell
(RBC) is placed into an isotonic solution,
amount of water molecules is
transported into the red blood cells by
osmosis is equal to the amount of water
molecules transported out from the cell
(as shown in the diagram beside).
10. Therefore the amount of water in the cell
remain unchanged (no net movement of
water across plasma membrane).
11. The red blood cells maintain their shape.

12. When a plant cell is placed in an isotonic

solution, solute concentration in the
external solution is equal to the solute
concentration in the cell sap.
13. Therefore the rate of diffusion of water
into the cell is equal to the rate of
diffusion of water out from the cell.
14. As a result, the shape of the cell remain
unchanged.
 Animal & plant cells in
Hypotonic solutions
15. If an animal cell such as red blood cell is placed
into a hypotonic solution, water molecules is
transported into the red blood cells by
osmosis(as shown in the diagram beside).
16. The red blood cells will inflate (mengembung)
and finally burst (pecah) because the thin
membrane cannot withstand the high pressure
inside the cell (tidak mampu menahan tekanan
yg. tinggi di dalam sel).
17. The red blood cells are said to undergo
haemolysis.

18. When a plant cell is placed in a hypotonic

solution, water molecules is transported into
the cell by osmosis.
19. The water is then stored in vacuole causing it to
expand (mengembang) and exerts
(mengenakan) pressure on the cell wall. This
pressure is called turgor pressure.
20. The turgor pressure caused the plant cell to
become firm or turgid.
21. The rigid cell wall prevents cell from bursting.
22. Turgidity of a plant cells is also responsible for
causing the GUARD CELLS in leaves to swell so
that stomata can remain open for
photosynthesis.
 Animal & plant cells in
Hypertonic solutions
23. If an animal cell such as red blood cell is
placed into a hypertonic solution, water
molecules is transported out from the red
blood cells by osmosis (as shown in the
diagram beside).
24. The red blood cells will shrink or crenate
(mengecut) because of the lost of water
from the cell and probably die.
25. The red blood cells are said to undergo
crenation.

26. When a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic

solution, water molecules is transported
out from the cell by osmosis.
27. The vacuole and cytoplasm are then
shrink due to lost of water.
28. The plasma membrane is pulled away
from the cell wall.
29. The cell wall maintain its shape.
30. The process is called plasmolysed.
31. If a plasmolysed plant cell is immersed
back (direndam semula) in a hypotonic
solution, the cell become turgid again.
This condition is called deplasmolysed.
 The Effects and Applications of Osmosis in Daily Life

32. Wilting (Layu) in plants:

- Wilting occurs in plants when too much fertilizers like potassium nitrate is given.
- The fertilisers + Soil = dissolves in the soil water.
- Then turn soil water into hypertonic to the cell sap of the plant root.
- As a result, water diffuses from the cell sap into the soil by osmosis and the cell is
plasmolysed.
- Water shortage (kekurangan) in soil also causes the plant to wilt.
- When soil dries out = the soil become more concentrated or hypertonic.
- Makes the water diffuse out from plant cell into the soil = the plant cell loss water to soil.

33. Food Preservation (Pengawet):

- Foods such as mushrooms, fruits and fish can be preserved using natural preservatives (salt
and sugar).
- The preservatives makes the surroundings more hypertonic to the food and causes water
to leave through osmosis.
- The food becomes dehydrated (the food become very-very dry).
- Microbes lose water to the surrounding. Without water, bacteria and fungus cannot
survive and dies.
3.3 Appreciating The Movements of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane

34. The proper functioning of plasma membrane is important to:

- Controls/regulates what goes in and out of the cell as the plasma

membrane acts as selective permeable or ‘gatekeeper’ (pengawal pintu).
- Maintain a suitable pH and ionic concentration inside the cell
for enzymatic activities.
- Obtain certain food supplies for energy and raw materials.
- Remove waste products and toxic substances out of the cell.

35. To maintain proper functioning of a plasma membrane and the whole cells, it is
important to:

- Apply balanced diet (makan pelbagai jenis kelas makanan macam

karbohydrat, proteins, lipids, serat, vitamins)
- Drink sufficient water (minum air secukupnya) everyday to prevent our
body cells from dehydrated.