Introduction

Physiology . . .intellectual point of view that

relates
Process
to
__________
 Two major approaches to physiology:

Teleological
Vs
___________

Example Question: The heart contract so O2

can be brought to our body cells
 Movement across Membranes

Transport across cell membrane

Diffusion:
A passive process,
Do not require the
input of energy from
Cellsource, like
outside
ATP.

3
 Transport across cell
membrane
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Extracellular side
of membrane

Glycolipid Carbohydrate Fibrous protein

Glycoprotein

“Heads” of
phospholipid

Double
“Tails” of
layer of
phospholipid Phospholipid
molecules

Cell membrane Cell membrane

(a) (b) Cholesterol Globular Hydrophobic
a: © Biophoto Associates/Photo Researchers, Inc. molecules protein fatty acid
“tail”
Cytoplasmic side Hydrophilic
of membrane Phosphate
“head”

4
 Functions of the
Cell Membrane:
1. Physical Isolation
2. Regulation of
exchange with the
environment
Fig 3-4
3. Communication
between the cell and
the environment
4. Support &
structure
Some molecules freely come across the cell membrane.
E.g. Cholesterol
Small hydrophobic/
lipophilic molecules

Small uncharged Urea

polar molecules

Large uncharged
polar molecules

Ions

Cholesterol-based
molecules (e.g.
steroid hormones)
 Movement across Membranes

Cell Membrane:
Focus on the regulation of the entry and exit
 Proteins perform most of the specific
functions of the membrane

Transporters Structural Receptors Enzymes

FYI: 30% of proteins coded by genome are membrane proteins

 Movement across Membranes

•Permeancy of molecule depends on:

•Lipid soluble?
•Size….
• Uncharged/nonpolar
Small hydrophobic/
lipophilic molecules

Small uncharged Urea

polar molecules

Large uncharged
polar molecules

Ions

Cholesterol-based
molecules (e.g.
steroid hormones)
Movement can be classified by either energy
requirements or physical requirements

Figure 5.5
Movement can be classified by either energy
requirements or physical requirements

Figure 5.5
 Movement . . .via Diffusion

lipid Ion Sugar

Carrier
Eg. Glucose
Simple diffusion Channel (GLUT2 and
Eg. cholesterol Eg. Na+ GLUT4)
(Channel mediated diffusion)
Glucose Carrier (GLUT2 and GLUT4)
 Diffusion…
 Energy required? Yes. (Kinetic energy)
 ATP required? NO!! (No external energy)

 Effect on rate due to…

•  temperature? Increase directionally proportion
•  molecular size? Decrease inversely proportion
• Distance from initial site? decrease

 When does diffusion stop? No concentration gradient

equilibrate

 What additional factors must be considered in

diffusion across a membrane? Surface area,
thickness, … . Eg. Alevoli
 Diffusion rate across a cell membrane
depends on:
• Lipid-solubility of molecule
• Available surface area
• Membrane thickness

Fick’s law of diffusion across membranes:

Rate  Surface area x [ ] gradient x

permeability
membrane thickness Summarized in Table 5-1
Channel  Carrier

Figure 5-9 - Overview

 Channels
• Transmembrane
proteins
• Majority are ion
channels
• Gated:
• Voltage Gated
• Mechanically Gated
• Ligand Gated
 Carriers

 Also transmembrane
proteins
 No direct connection
between ECF and ICF
 Operate slower than
channels
 Facilitated diffusion
carriers are NOT
pumps (ATPases)!!
 Carriers Similar to Enzymes

 Catalyze transport process

 Have specific substrates (specificity)
 Undergo conformational change
 Affected by temperature, pH, etc
 Subject to competition and saturation
 Have allosteric sites
Movement can be classified by either energy
requirements or physical requirements

Figure 5.5
 Active Transporter

 ATPases
 Energy required (ATP)
 Also called Pump
 Eg. Na+/K+ ATPase
 Works against the
concentration gradient
of the ions.
 1st active transport
 Characteristics of mediated transport

Specificity

Competition

Saturation: # molecules can

squeeze in per time
 Transport graph:

Transport maximum

Rate
(amount/time)

Plasma [glucose]
 2o /indirect active transport

1. Active transporter of X
2. Sets up gradient for X
3. X binds to 2nd active
transporter for Y
4. Y moves against its [ ]
gradient
Example of 2o AT: Glucose absorption by epithelia

Figure 5-23
Summary of lipid- versus protein-mediated
movement across membranes
Epithelial cells are very very clever!!

Figure 5-22