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Learning objectives
At todays lecture we will cover the main mechanisms through which cells exchange materials with their environment.
Different types of movement of molecules through the cell membrane will be elucidated and examples of each discussed.
The importance of each mechanism will also be outlined.
Learning outcomes
By the end of todays lecture you should:
1) Understand the main mechanisms of movement of molecules through the cell membrane diffusion; osmosis; facilitated diffusion; active transport and cytosis. 2) Be able to compare these mechanisms. 3) Understand their requirements and significance for the functioning of the cells.
As the temperature rises the kinetic energy of the molecules increases and they move faster.
Molecules of water move in every direction. As a result the lump of salt disappears and the molecules of salt spread throughout the water.
Hydrophilic phospholipid heads interact with the aqueous media inside and outside of the cell. Hydrophobic tails repel aqueous media and prevent passage through the membrane.
The three characteristics of a molecule that determine the phospholipid bilayer permeability to that species are . . .
1) polarity - (Hydrophobic vs Hydrophylic) 2) charge - (charged vs uncharged)
Molecules that pass through the phospholipid bilayer easily hydrophobic molecules i.e. O2, N2, steroids. Nonpolar - benzene Small uncharged polar molecules - H2O, Urea, glycerol, CO2
Molecules that dont pass through the phospholipid bilayer easily... Large uncharged - Glucose Polar molecules - Sucrose Ions (charged) - H+ , Na+ , HCO3-, K+, Ca2+ , Cl- , Mg2+
Diffusion
A physical process characterised by the net movement of particles from a place of high concentration to a place of lower concentration.
Ficks Law
In many living organisms temperature and density are constant. Cells and tissues adapt to diffusion by short path lengths, large surface areas and high concentration gradients.
Water potential
The force pushing water to move from one side of a membrane to another is measured by the water potential which has the units of pressure The water potential () of pure water is 0. The pressure on a cell will increase its . cell = s + p s solute potential p pressure potential
cell = outside
Facilitated diffusion
Co-transport
Cytosis
Some things are too big to diffuse fast enough or pass through a pore or a pump. These are moved in vesicles via cytosis. Vesicles and other large complexes are moved around the cell by motors attached to microtubules (dynein and kinesins) or microfilaments (myosins). Import of particles is endocytosis export of particles is exocytosis.
Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis
Exocytosis - secretion
Awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Sdhof "for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells".
Summary
The following mechanisms of transport through the cell membrane were elucidated: 1. Diffusion. 2. Osmosis. 3. Facilitated diffusion. 4. Active transport. 5. Cytosis. The subtypes and their importance for the cells were also discussed.