TRANSPORT MECHANISM

It refers to the collection of mechanisms that regulate the passage of solutes such as ions and
small molecules through biological membranes, which are lipid bilayers that contain proteins
embedded in them.

CELL MEMBRANE

The cell membrane (plasma membrane) is a thin semi-permeable membrane that surrounds
the cytoplasm of a cell. Its function is to protect the integrity of the interior of the cell by allowing
certain substances into the cell while keeping other substances out.
The regulation of passage through the membrane is due to selective membrane permeability -
a characteristic of biological membranes which allows them to separate substances of distinct chemical
nature. In other words, they can be permeable to certain substances but not to others.
Semipermeable membrane is a type of
biological or synthetic, polymeric membrane that will
allow certain molecules or ions to pass through it by
diffusion—or occasionally by more specialized
processes of facilitated diffusion, passive transport or
active transport.

Amphipathic – describing a molecule which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 FLUID MOSAIC MODEL

The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the plasma membrane as a mosaic of
components —including phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates—that gives the
membrane a fluid character.
The biological model was devised by Singer and Nicolson in 1972, describes the cell
membrane as a two-dimensional liquid that restricts the lateral diffusion of membrane components.

MEMBRANE PROTEINS
Integral proteins are, as their name suggests,
integrated into the membrane: they have at least
one hydrophobic region that anchors them to
the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid
bilayer.

Peripheral proteins are found on the outside

and inside surfaces of membranes, attached
either to integral proteins or to phospholipids.
Unlike integral membrane proteins, peripheral
membrane proteins do not stick into the
hydrophobic core of the membrane, and they tend to be more loosely attached.

Channel protein is a protein that allows the

transport of specific substances across a cell
membrane.

Carrier proteins bind a solute on one side of the

membrane and deliver it to the other side through a
change in conformation. The transported solutes may
be small organic molecules or inorganic ions.

Recognition proteins, called glycoproteins have

complex carbohydrates attached to them. These form
the identification system that allows your body cells to
recognize each other as “self” instead of “invader.”

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 Receptor proteins have active sites shaped to fit specific
signal molecules, such as hormones. Once the protein is
activated by the substance, it sets off a series of changes in
the cell, such as increased metabolic rate or cell division.

Adhesion proteins are located on the cell surface

involved in binding with other cells or with the
extracellular matrix (ECM) in the process called cell
adhesion. In essence, cell adhesion molecules help cells
stick to each other and to their surroundings.

CONCENTRATION GRADIENT
The concentration gradient refers to the
gradual change in the concentration of solutes
present in a solution between two regions. In
biology, a gradient result from an unequal
distribution of ions across the cell membrane. When
this happens, solutes move along a concentration
gradient.

PASSIVE TRANSPORT
Passive transport is a movement of ions and other atomic or molecular substances across cell
membranes without need of energy input.
Diffusion - is the movement of a substance from an area of high
concentration to an area of low concentration. Diffusion happens in
liquids and gases because their particles move randomly from place
to place. It continues until the concentration of substances is
uniform throughout.

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
It is the movement of molecules (O2, CO2, N2) across a semi-
permeable membrane without the help of protein channels.

FACILITATED DIFFUSION
It is the flow of molecules (amino acids, glucose, ions) down a
concentration gradient, across a membrane, but requires the help of
a protein.

OSMOSIS
It is the movement of free water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane, down a
concentration gradient.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 Aquaporin - integral membrane proteins that serve as channels in the transfer of water.

*TONICITY
Tonicity is the concentration of a solution as compared to another solution. Concentration
describes the amount of solutes dissolved by a solution.

If a solution has a higher concentration of solutes (less water) than another it is said to be
hypertonic.
A hypotonic solution has a lower concentration of solutes and more water than another
solution.
Isotonic solutions contain the same concentration of solutes.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT
It is the movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher
concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 The sodium-potassium pump is found in many cell (plasma) membranes. Powered by ATP,
the pump moves sodium and potassium ions in opposite directions, each against its concentration
gradient. In a single cycle of the pump, three sodium ions are extruded from and two potassium ions
are imported into the cell.

BULK TRANSPORT
The movement of macromolecules such as proteins or polysaccharides into or out of the cell
is called bulk transport. There are two types of bulk transport, exocytosis and endocytosis, and both
require the expenditure of energy (ATP). In exocytosis, materials are exported out of the cell via
secretory vesicles.

ENDOCYTOSIS
- the taking in of matter by a living cell by invagination of its membrane to form a vacuole.

PHAGOCYTOSIS
It is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle, giving
rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome.

PINOCYTOSIS
It is the ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell
membrane.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 RECEPTOR-MEDIATED ENDOCYTOSIS
A specific receptor on the cell surface binds tightly to the extracellular macromolecule
(the ligand) that it recognizes; the plasma-membrane region containing the receptor-ligand
complex then undergoes endocytosis, forming a transport vesicle containing the receptor-
ligand complex and excluding most other plasma-membrane proteins. Receptor-mediated
endocytosis generally occurs via clathrin-coated pits and vesicles.

EXOCYTOSIS
- Process in which a cell transports molecules out of the cell by secreting them through an
energy-dependent process.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: TRANSPORT MECHANISM PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU