MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES

ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE

3.1 THE MOVEMENT OF SUBSTANCES

ACROSS THE PLASMA MEMBRANE
Living cells carry out life process:
- Absorb water & nutrient
- Excrete waste product
- Exchange respiratory waste product
These processes are IMPORTANT because M.O.S.E.
a)
b)
c)
d)

Maintain optimal pH value

Obtain nutrient for metabolism
Secrete useful substances (ex: hormones)
Eliminate toxic waste product

PLASMA MEMBRANE
Is very soft and thin
It is the outermost structure of a cell
Covers the whole cell and separates it from
external environment
A very effective barrier against free entry of
substances into cell
Made up of two layers of phospholipids (bilayers)
Has hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail
Cholesterol stabilizes and strengthen the
membrane making it more flexible

 Pore Protein
This protein molecule has a tiny pore or channel
which allows ions and small molecules to pass
through.
Carrier Protein
This protein molecule acts as a carrier which
carries considerably big molecules such as
glucose, amino acids and vitamin C.
The structure of the membrane is depicted as a
dynamic fluid in which molecules of protein look
as if they are floating in the lipid solution. The
molecules of protein and lipid are not static but
can move freely.

PERMEABILITY OF THE PLASMA

MEMBRANE
Semi-permeable
- Allows certain substance to move
freely
Movement of substances across the
plasma membrane occur through the
lipid layer, tiny pores or being
transported by carrier proteins in
an active or passive way.

SIMPLE DIFFUSION
Random movement of ions or molecules from a
region of high water concentration to a region
of low water concentration, i.e. following the
concentration gradient.
Occurs until a state of equilibrium is reached.
Ex: the absorptions of lipid-soluble such as
vitamin ADEK into the villi, and the exchange of
gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide
between alveoli and blood capillaries.

OSMOSIS
Diffusion which involves movement of solvent
(e.g. water) from a region of high water
concentration to a region of low water
concentration across the plasma membrane.
Occurs continuously until both sides of plasma
membrane have the same concentration.
Ex: water entering plant cells from root hair, and
osmoregulation in aquatic organisms such as
Amoeba.

FACILITATED DIFFUSION
Movement of substances across plasma membrane using
carrier proteins following the concentration gradient
Example of substances: Not lipid-soluble, charged
particles and big molecules (glucose & amino acids)
Have active site equipped with specific substances
When for an example glucose molecules approach this
active site and bind to it, carrier protein changes
shape and transports the glucose molecule into the cell.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Movement of substances across plasma
membrane against the concentration
gradient. This process only occurs in
living systems which actively produces
energy through respiration.
Needs energy from ATP molecules which
is used for moving the carrier protein so
that they can transport substances
against the concentration gradient.

 Substances which are required to be

transported bind to the carrier protein.
Carrier protein receive energy from ATP
molecules and change shape and get
activated to transport the substances
concerned across the plasma membrane
against the concentration gradient.
Example: Intake of mineral salts and ions
by root hair of plants, the reabsorption
of glucose and amino acids from nephrons
into blood capillaries in the kidney and
transport of potassium ions into the cells
and the elimination of sodium ions out of
the cell.

3.2-Movement of Substances across

the Plasma Membrane in Everyday Life
3 types of solutions :

Isotonic-Solution outside the cell is as concentrated as

cytoplasm in cell
-No net movement of water
Hypertonic-Solution outside the cell is more concentrated
than cytoplasm in cell.
-Water more concentrated in cell than outside.

-Water move out of the cell and cause

crenation for animal cell and flaccid
for plant cell.
Hypotonic
-Solution outside the cell less
concentrated than cytoplasm in cell
-Water more concentrated outside the
cell
-Water move into the cell n cause
haemolysis in for animal cells and
turgid for plant cells.

Effects of Hypotonic,Hypertonic and Isotonic solution on both animal &

plant cells
- Animal cell(RBC)

-Plant cells

3.3-Impact of osmosis on human

beings and other organisms
Preservation in Food
- Natural food preservatives include
substances such as salt,sugar and vinegar.
- Salt used for meat preservation. Adding
salt can dehydrate microbes through
osmosis since the condition is hypotonic to
th cells of bacteria.
- Hence,it inhibit the bacteria n food can last
for two years

-The end-