7.

4 Cellular Transport

NWRC BIO 30
 Cellular Transport
 Diffusion – movement of particles from
an area of high concentration to an area
of low concentration.
– Continues until an equilibrium is
reached
– Dynamic equilibrium – particles move
freely and are evenly distributed.
(continuous movement with no
overall change) video
Facilitated Diffusion
 Substances move into
the cell through a
channel protein that
opens and closes to
allow the substance to
diffuse.
 This requires no
energy input so it is
called “Passive
transport”
Homeostasis – Maintaining a
Balance
 Cells must keep the proper
concentration of nutrients and
water and eliminate wastes.
 The plasma membrane is
selectively permeable – it will
allow some things to pass
through, while blocking other
things.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Lipid bilayer – two sheets of lipids
(phospholipids).
– Found around the cell, the nucleus,
vacuoles, mitochondria, and
chloroplasts.
– Embedded with proteins and
strengthened with cholesterol
molecules.
 Membrane Proteins
 1. Determine what particles can pass
through the membrane.
 2. Serve as enzymes (may speed
reactions).
 3. Act as markers that are recognized
by chemicals and molecules from the
inside and the outside of the cell (the
immune system).
 Cellular Transport

 Passive transport – no energy is

needed to move particles.

– Facilitated diffusion – embedded

proteins act as tunnels allowing
particles to “fall” through.
 Cellular Transport [2]
 Active transport – energy is
needed to move particles.
– Carrier proteins – embedded proteins
change shape to open and close
passages across the membrane.
– Endocytosis – taking something into
the cell.
– Exocytosis – expelling something from
the cell.
 Osmosis
 Diffusion of water across a selectively
permeable membrane.
 Occurs until water is balanced on both
sides of the membrane.
 Osmosis
 The net movement of water molecules
along a concentration gradient from an area
of high water concentration (HWC) to an
area of low water concentration (LWC)
through a selectively permeable
membrane.
 Osmosis
 Diffusion of water through a
semi-permeable membrane
– Semi-permeable: permeable to
solvents (WATER), but not to
large molecules
– High [water] to low [water]
Cell Concentrations
 Hypertonic solutions –
more dissolved solute.
More water leaves cell
than enters
 Hypotonic solutions –
less dissolved solute.
More water enters cell
than leaves
 Isotonic solutions
(normal)– the same
dissolved solute.
Isotonic hypertonic and hypotonic
 .Click here to see
demo
Osmosis in Red Blood Cells

Normal RBC

Shrunken RBC
Osmosis in Plant Cells

Normal Red Onion Cells

Plasmolysed Red Onion

Cells
 Overcoming Osmosis
 Contractile vacuoles – expel
excess water from bacterial cells
that live in water.
 Turgor pressure – water pressure
in a plant cell. Loss of turgor
pressure causes wilting
(plasmolysis).
The Role of a Contractile
Vacuole in an Amoeba
 Active Transport
 Active transport is necessary when
substances must move from a region of
lower concentration to a region of higher
concentration . This requires energy so it is
referred to as active transport –click here for
a demo of the Na+/K+ pump (see figure 7-
27)
Endocytosis
 Endocytosis {Endo
(within) cytosis
(cell) } is a process in
which a substance
gains entry into a cell
without passing
through the cell
membrane.
Exocytosis
 Exocytosis is the reverse
of endocytosis.
Exocytosis is a process in
which an intracellular
vesicle (membrane
bounded sphere) moves
to the plasma membrane
and subsequent fusion
of the vesicular
membrane and plasma
membrane ensues.

 Click here for demo of both

processes
Assessment
 1. List only (supply
your own definitions)
 Diffusion
 Osmosis
 Active Transport
 Endo and Exo cytosis
Assessment
 2. The plasma
membrane is
selectively permeable
Cellular transport
methods also move
substances into and
out of cell
Assessment
.

q3
 Assessment
4. .FD moves substances
with the gradient and does
not require cellular energy
to transport a molecule
across the plasma
membrane. Active transport
requires energy because it
moves substances against
the gradient