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Movement of molecules

Learning objectives
At todays lecture we will cover the main mechanisms through which cells exchange materials with their environment.

Different types of movement of molecules through the cell membrane will be elucidated and examples of each discussed.
The importance of each mechanism will also be outlined.

Learning outcomes
By the end of todays lecture you should:

1) Understand the main mechanisms of movement of molecules through the cell membrane diffusion; osmosis; facilitated diffusion; active transport and cytosis. 2) Be able to compare these mechanisms. 3) Understand their requirements and significance for the functioning of the cells.

The state of matter

As the temperature rises the kinetic energy of the molecules increases and they move faster.

Second Law of Thermodynamics


All things tend towards entropy (randomness). Molecules move (diffuse) from an area of high concentration to areas of low concentration. Eventually molecules become randomly distributed unless acted on by something else.

Random Movement of Molecules

Movement along a concentration gradient

Molecules of water move in every direction. As a result the lump of salt disappears and the molecules of salt spread throughout the water.

Movement down a concentration gradient

Movement across cell membrane


Movement of molecules across the cell membrane has two main features: Allows uptake and release of molecules according to the biological needs of the cell (eg. uptake and release of oxygen by red blood cells). Transport can be regulated (eg. increased transport of glucose into muscles during physical activity).

The nature of phospholipid bilayers

Hydrophilic phospholipid heads interact with the aqueous media inside and outside of the cell. Hydrophobic tails repel aqueous media and prevent passage through the membrane.

The three characteristics of a molecule that determine the phospholipid bilayer permeability to that species are . . .
1) polarity - (Hydrophobic vs Hydrophylic) 2) charge - (charged vs uncharged)

3) size - (large vs small)

Molecules that pass through the phospholipid bilayer easily hydrophobic molecules i.e. O2, N2, steroids. Nonpolar - benzene Small uncharged polar molecules - H2O, Urea, glycerol, CO2

Molecules that dont pass through the phospholipid bilayer easily... Large uncharged - Glucose Polar molecules - Sucrose Ions (charged) - H+ , Na+ , HCO3-, K+, Ca2+ , Cl- , Mg2+

The cell membrane is more than just a phospholipid bilayer

Control of molecule transport in and out of the cell


Cell membrane is selectively permeable allows the passage of certain substances but not that of others. Property depends on both protein and phospholipid components of membrane Mechanisms of movement include: 1. Diffusion. 2. Osmosis. 3. Facilitated Diffusion. 4. Active Transport. 5. Cytosis.

Diffusion
A physical process characterised by the net movement of particles from a place of high concentration to a place of lower concentration.

The rate of diffusion


depends on a number of factors such as: Particle size inversely proportional Temperature directly proportional Concentration gradient size directly
proportional

Path length inversely proportional Surface area directly proportional


Density inversely proportional

Ficks Law

In many living organisms temperature and density are constant. Cells and tissues adapt to diffusion by short path lengths, large surface areas and high concentration gradients.

Surface area and volume


The rate of exchange of substances depends on the organism's surface area that's in contact with the surroundings. Requirements for materials depends on the volume of the organism. The ability to meet the requirements depends on the surface area : volume ratio.

The problem of getting large


As organisms get larger their volume and surface area both increase, but volume increases much more than surface area.
ORGANISM bacterium amoeba fly dog whale LENGTH SA (M) VOL. (M) 1 mm 10 mm 1m 100 m 6 x 10-12 6 x 10-4 6 x 100 6 x 104 10-18 10-12 10-6 100 106 100 mm 6 x 10-8 S/A:VOL 6,000,000:1 60,000:1 600:1 6:1 0.06:1

Osmosis diffusion of water through a partially permeable membrane

Water potential
The force pushing water to move from one side of a membrane to another is measured by the water potential which has the units of pressure The water potential () of pure water is 0. The pressure on a cell will increase its . cell = s + p s solute potential p pressure potential

Animal cells and osmosis

cell < outside

cell = outside

cell > outside

Plant cells and osmosis

Facilitated diffusion

Passive diffusion of glucose permease

Active transport - principles


Creates internal environment different from the external one. Different from diffusion where the end state is equilibrium between internal and external environment. Represents the movement of particles across the cell membrane often from an area of low to an area of high concentration. Would not be possible according to 2nd Law of Thermodynamics unless cellular energy (ATP) is expended to transport against concentration gradient.

Types of active transport

Uniport proton pumps

Antiport sodium/potassium pump

Co-transport

Secondary active transport

Cytosis
Some things are too big to diffuse fast enough or pass through a pore or a pump. These are moved in vesicles via cytosis. Vesicles and other large complexes are moved around the cell by motors attached to microtubules (dynein and kinesins) or microfilaments (myosins). Import of particles is endocytosis export of particles is exocytosis.

Phagocytosis

Pinocytosis

Clathrin (receptor) mediated endosytosis

Exocytosis - secretion

2013 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine

Awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Sdhof "for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells".

Summary
The following mechanisms of transport through the cell membrane were elucidated: 1. Diffusion. 2. Osmosis. 3. Facilitated diffusion. 4. Active transport. 5. Cytosis. The subtypes and their importance for the cells were also discussed.

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