Does not require metabolic energy.
Depends on the concentration gradient to move things into and out of the
cells.
When carrier molecules become saturated they transport at their maximum
rate.
All of available protein channels are working at their max rate.
Cannot move substances against their concentration gradients
2.
Osmosis - passive
It is the diffusion of water (solvent) across a selectively permeable
membrane
Water tends to move across membranes from an area where there is more
water (more water, less solutes), to an area where there is less water (less
water, more solutes).
Aquaporins, membrane rearrangement
Osmotic pressure
- if there is a solution which is very concentrated with
solutes, water will tend to move into it more strongly than into a weaker
solution.
This tendency of water to move into a solution is known as osmotic
pressure
Osmolarity
Osmolarity deals with the total amount of solvent and solute in solutions.
When solvent and solutes are allowed to move freely there is no net
change in the volume of solutions on either side of the membrane.
Tonicity
Cells have a tendency to shrink or swell when placed in solution, and these
are called
Isotonic-
Same solute and water conc. in and out of cell.
Hypotonic-
more water inside cell then outside.
Hypertonic-
more solute inside cell then outside.
If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, the inside of the cell will have
more solutes than the solution, so water will rush in and cause it to
lyse
.
If a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, the inside of the cell will have the
same concentration of ions as the solution, so there is no net movement of
water into or out of the cell.
If a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, there is more water present in the
interior of the cell than in the external solution so water leaves the cell and
it becomes
crenated
5

Nur 0012
Tonicity deals with only the non-penetrating solutes that will cause
movements of water.
Sketch a cell in each of the three types of solutions and note which
direction water will flow.
4.
Active Transport Mechanisms
Transport mechanisms involve carrier molecules within the plasma membrane
that carry large molecules through the plasma membrane.
All mediated transport mechanisms have 3 characteristics in common:
1.
Specificity
–
2.
Competition
–
3.
Saturation
–
Primary Active Transport
Requires energy provided by the breakdown of ATP to move substances
from one side of the membrane to the other.
Active transport can move substances against their concentration
gradients
as long as there is adequate ATP and carrier molecules
Active transport can also exchange one substance for another as in the
NA+/K+
pump.


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- Fall '16