The cell membrane

A semipermeable bilayer membrane

Thickness: 7.5 nm
Made up of phospholipids and protein
Functions of the cell membrane

 Gives the cell its shape

 Homeostasis

 Transport
 Functions of cell
membrane proteins
Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs)
Transport across cell membrane
Receptors(neurotransmitter, Hormones)
Enzymes (Adenylate cyclase)
Transport proteins can act as:
a- Channels
b- Carriers
C- Pumps
 Transport across cell
membranes
A – Passive
B- Active
1- Primary Active Transport
2- Secondary Active Transport
3- Vesicular Transport (Endocytosis,
Exocytosis)
Passive transport
 1. Simple diffusion
Is a net movement of
molecules (random)
from a region of higher
concentration to a
region of lower
concentration.
Does not need energy.
Depends on physical
and chemical properties
of the molecules.
Simple diffusion can occur through the cell
membrane
by :
(1) through the slits of the lipid bilayer if
the diffusing substance is lipid soluble,
(2) through watery channels that
penetrate all the way through membrane if
it is water or lipid insoluble.
It is affected by:
 concentration of the substance
 solubility of the substance

 diffusion coeffecient

 eg:

Gases O2 ,Co2 , ,N2

Lipids Cholesterol, Steroids
Facilitated diffusion .2
When a carrier is used (large size) ,then the
diffusion is called facilitated diffusion.
Carriers facilitate movement by physically
binding molecules on one side of the
membrane, and releasing them on the other.
Essential characteristics:
- Passive
- Specific
- saturates
the rate of simple diffusion through an
open channel increases with the
concentration of the diffusing
substance.
in facilitated diffusion the rate of
diffusion approaches a maximum, called
Vmax, as the concentration of the
diffusing substance increases
Facilitated Diffusion
 Osmosis .3
Osmosis is a diffusion of solvent from
a region of low solute concentration into
a region of high solute concentration
through a semipermeable membrane.
 Non ionic diffusion .4
Some weak acids and bases are quite soluble
in the undissociated (nonionic) form, but
difficult to cross membranes in the ionic form.
Consequently:
This maintains concentration gradient for
movement, if the substance transformed into
the ionic form after diffusion.
However, NH3 is lipid-soluble and
diffuses across the cell membranes
down its concentration gradient into the
interstitial fluid and tubular urine.
In the urine it reacts with H+ to form
NH4+, and the NH4+ remains in the urine.
 Solvent Drag .5
When a solvent is moving in one
direction, it tend to drag (take) some
molecules of solute with it
It has a small effect.
 Donnan Effect -6
When there is an ion on one side of a membrane
that cannot diffuse through the membrane, the
distribution of other ions to which the membrane
is permeable is affected in a predictable way.
For example, the negative charge of a
nondiffusible anion decrease diffusion of
the diffusible cations and favors
diffusion of the diffusible anions.
 Active transport

Primary Active Transport

Secondary Active Transport
Vesicular Transport
 Primary active transport

The solute is transported against an electrochemical-

. gradient
Metabolic energy in the form of ATP must be-
. provided
The ATP is directly coupled for transport of the-
.solute
.Example: transport of Na+ & K + by Na+-K+ pump -
.Na+-K+ pump

Is found in membrane-
.of all cells
It consists of α & β-
.subunits
It pumps Na + from ICF-
. to ECF
For every 3Na+ ions-
pumped out of cell 2K
. + are pumped in
 ECF

ICF
 Functions of the pump

Na+-K+ pump is responsible for maintaining ions -

gradient for Na+ and K+ keeping Na+
concentration low in the ICF and K+
.concentration high in the ICF
Electrogenic -
Corrects disturbances of ions concentration due to -
.action potential
Maintain cell volume -
 Control of the pump

Activity increases by:

- an increase in intracellular Na level
- hormones : Insulin, thyroid hormones,
Aldosterone.
Activity decreases by:
- Dopamine
- Digitalis drugs
 Secondary Active
.Transport

The use of an exchange pump (such as

the Na+-K+ pump) indirectly to drive the
transport of other substances.
 Secondary Active •
. Transport
• Reabsorption of Na+ & Glucose.

- Due to the pump activity, there is

high sodium concentration outside
and low Na+ concentration inside of
the cell membrane.
-This provides a strong drive for
entry of sodium and its accompanied
glucose into renal tubular cells by
the symport transporter.
 Vesicular Active
Transport
It is the transport of large particles and
macromolecules across plasma
membranes.
Examples :-
:Exocytosis -
-:Endocytosis -
 Exocytosis
For secretion of proteins synthesized
within the cell.
 Exocytosis
Note:
 Exocytosis requires calcium and energy
 Endocytosis
The reverse of exocytosis