3.

1 MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES
ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
• Metabolism :
– all the chemical activities taking place in
the cell
• Consists of two processes:
1. Anabolism
2. Catabolism
 Anabolism

the building up of molecules

E.g. : synthesis of protein and
ATPs, which a cell needs
 Catabolism

breaking down of large molecules

to smaller simpler molecules.

E.g. : oxidation of glucose in cell

respiration
 Substances that leave the cell

Substance Reason for removal

Carbon dioxide waste product of respiration
(animal cell)

Oxygen (Plant cell) waste product of photosynthesis

Secretions cellular products for use in other parts of the body

Nitrogenous waste waste products from breakdown of excess proteins

Excess water Osmoregulation

 Substances that enter the cell

Substance Reason for intake

Oxygen (animal cell) For cell respiration

Carbon dioxide (plant As raw material in photosynthesis

cell)
Glucose For cell respiration

Amino acids As raw materials for protein synthesis

Ionic salts For cell metabolism and osmoregulation

The structure of plasma
membrane
• Phospholipid bilayer consists of:

– A polar phosphate molecule head which is

hydrophilic

– Two non-polar fatty acid tails which are

hydrophobic
Permeability of the plasma membrane
Permeability of the phospholipids bilayer

• Plasma membrane :
– semi-permeable
– Allows only certain substances to pass
through but not other
Permeability of the phospholipids bilayer

• Phospholipid bilayer is permeable to:

– Small non-polar (hydrophobic) molecules
that are lipid soluble, such as : fatty acids,
glycerol, steroids, vitamin A, D, E and K
– Small uncharged molecules, such as:
water, oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Phospholipid bilayer is not permeable to:
– Large polar molecules that are not
soluble in lipid, such as glucose amino
acids, nucleic acids and polysaccharides
– Ions (charged), regardless of size, such
as: H+, Na+
TYPES OF TRANSPORT ACROSS THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE
 Types o transport
across the plasma
membrane

Passive Transport Active Transport

Facilitated
Simple Diffusion Osmosis
Diffusion
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
 Simple Diffusion
Random movement of ions/molecules

from a region of their high concentration

to a region of their low concentration

down a concentration gradient

until an equilibrium is achieved

 Simple diffusion

Molecules that can cross are

Small non-polar
Small uncharged
(hydrophobic)
molecules
molecules
 Factors affecting the rate of
diffusion:

Diffusion
Temperature
gradient

Size of molecules
Surface area
or ions
FACILITATED DIFFUSION
Movement of specific molecules (or
ions) across the plasma membrane

Assisted by pore proteins / carrier

proteins
Pore Proteins

• Charged ions

• Open up pore /
channels across
the membrane to
allow entry or exit

• Specific
Carrier Protein
• larger polar molecules
(such as sugar & amino
acids)

• protein attaches itself to

the binding site of a carrier
protein

• the carrier protein changes

shape and delivers the
molecule across the
plasma membrane
OSMOSIS
 TYPES OF SOLUTION

HYPOTONIC

ISOTONIC

HYPERTTONIC
 movement of water molecules

from a region of low solute concentration

(high water concentration) to a region of high
solute concentration (low water
concentration)

through semi-permeable membrane

Examples of osmosis:

• Absorption of water by root hairs

• Movement of water from one cell to

another

• Absorption of water in the alimentary

canal-stomach, small intestine and colon
Uses carrier proteins and energy

to move molecules or ions across the

plasma membrane

against the concentration gradient

• Example of active transport:
• Absorption of mineral salts by roots hairs
• Absorption of glucose and amino acids
by cells in the small intestine
Gaseous exchange in the alveoli and blood capillaries
by simple diffusion
Absorption of digested food in the villi
Absorption of water in root hairs of plants by
osmosis