The Cellular

Transport
At the end of the lesson, the learners shall
be able to:
describe and compare diffusion, osmosis,
facilitated transport and active
transport
explain factors that affect the rate of
diffusion across a cell membrane
predict the effects of hypertonic, isotonic,
and hypotonic environments on
osmosis in animal cells
differentiate endocytosis (phagocytosis
and pinocytosis) and exocytosis
 About Cell Membranes

All cells have a cell

membrane
Functions:
a. Controls what enters
and exits the cell to
maintain an internal
balance called
homeostasis TEM picture of a
b. Provides protection real cell membrane.

and support for the

cell
 About Cell Membranes (continued)

Structure of cell
membrane
Lipid Bilayer -2
layers of
phospholipids
a.Phosphate head is Phospholipid
polar (water loving)
b.Fatty acid tails non-
polar (water Lipid Bilayer
fearing)
c.Proteins embedded
 Polar heads
love water Fluid Mosaic
& dissolve. Model of the
cell membrane
Non-polar
tails hide
from water.
Carbohydrate cell
markers

Proteins
 About Cell Membranes (continued)

Cell membranes have pores (holes) in it

a. Selectively permeable: Allows some
molecules in and keeps other molecules out
b. The structure helps it be selective!

Pores
 Structure of the Cell Membrane
Outside of cell
Carbohydrate
Proteins chains
Lipid
Bilayer

Transport
Protein Phospholipids
Inside of cell
Animations
of
(cytoplasm)
Go tomembrane
structure
Section:
How do you think the structures
found within the membrane help
in performing its function and
what might happen in the
absence of the these structures?
Have you thought about the ways on
how the materials needed by the cell
and the wastes it needs to dispose are
able to move in and out of the plasma
membrane?
 In order for the cell to stay alive, it must
meet the characteristics of life which
include taking nutrients in and
eliminating wastes and other by-
products of metabolism.
Several mechanisms allow cells to carry
out these processes.
All of the cells activities are, in one way
or another, tied to the membrane that
separates its interior from the
environment.
 What is Diffusion?

Diffusion
The movement of
particles from an area of
higher concentration to
an area of lower
concentration until
equilibrium is reached
 Diffusion

HIGH to LOW concentration

Solute a substance dissolved
in another substance
Solvent a usually liquid
substance capable of
dissolving or dispersing one or
more substances
Solution the process by
which gas, liquid or solid is
dispersed uniformly in a gas,
liquid or solid without chemical
 What is Osmosis?
The diffusion of water across
a selectively permeable
membrane
It occurs whenever there is an
unequal concentration of
water on either side of a
selectively permeable
membrane
Osmosis: diffusion of
water through a
selectively permeable
membrane
Water moves from
high to low
concentrations Water moves freely
through pores.
Solute (green) to large
to move across.
Normally, body fluids are
isotonic to cells that is,
there is an equal
concentration of substances
(solutes) and water
(solvent) on both sides of
the plasma membrane , and
cells maintain their usual
size and shape.
 The concentration of water in the
solution is the same as the
concentration of water inside the
cell.
Cell in an isotonic solution do
experience osmosis, but because
water diffuses into and out of the
cell at the same rate, the cells
retain their normal shape
 In an isotonic solution, water molecules move
into and out of the cell at the same rate, and cells
retain their normal shape (A). Notice the concave
disc shape of a red blood cell (B). A plant cell has its
normal shape and pressure in an isotonic solution
(C).
 Isotonic Solution

Isotonic: The concentration of solutes in the

solution is equal to the concentration of solutes
inside the cell.

Result: Water moves equally in both directions

and the cell remains same size! (Dynamic
Equilibrium)
Intravenous solutions
medically administered usually
have this tonicity.
Tonicity
- Is he degree to which a
solutions concentration of
solute versus water causes
water to move into and out of
the cell
Cell in a HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
The concentration of dissolved substances
is lower in the solution outside the cell
than the concentration inside the cell.
Therefore, there is more water outside the
cell than inside.
Cells in a hypotonic solution experience
osmosis. Water moves through the plasma
membrane into the cell.
The cell swells and its internal pressure
increases
 As the pressure increases
inside animal cells, the plasma
membrane swells, like the red
blood cells shown in Figure
8.3B.
If the solution is extremely
hypotonic, the plasma
membrane may be unable to
withstand this pressure and
may burst.
 Because plant cells contain a rigid
cell wall that supports the cell, they
do not burst when in a hypotonic
solution.
As the pressure increases inside the
cell, the plasma membrane is
pressed against the cell wall
Instead of bursting, the plant cell
becomes more firm. Grocers keep
produce looking fresh by misting the
fruits and vegetables with water.
 In a hypotonic solution, water enters a cell by
osmosis, causing the cell to swell (A). Animal cells,
like these red blood cells, may continue to swell
until they burst (B). Plant cells swell beyond their
normal size as pressure increases (C).
 Hypotonic Solution
Hypotonic: The solution has a lower concentration of
solutes and a higher concentration of water than inside
the cell. (Low solute; High water)

Result: Water moves from the solution to inside

the cell): Cell Swells and bursts open
(cytolysis)!
How do animal cells
and plant cells react
differently in a
hypotonic solution?
Cell in a HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
The concentration of dissolved
substances outside the cell is higher
than the concentration inside the
cell.
Cells in a hypertonic solution
experience osmosis that causes
water to flow out.
Animal cells in a hypertonic solution
shrivel because of decreased
 Plant cells in a hypertonic
environment lose water, mainly
from the central vacuole.
The plasma membrane and
cytoplasm shrink away from the
cell wall.
Loss of water in a plant cell
results in a drop in pressure and
explains why plants wilt.
 In a hypertonic solution, water leaves a cell by
osmosis, causing the cell to shrink (A). Animal cells
like these red blood cells shrivel up as they lose
water (B). Plant cells lose pressure as the plasma
membrane shrinks away from the cell wall (C).
 Hypertonic Solution
Hypertonic: The solution has a higher concentration
of solutes and a lower concentration of water than
inside the cell. (High solute; Low water)

shrinks

Result: Water moves from inside the cell into

the solution: Cell shrinks (Plasmolysis)!
 Hypotonic solution Isotonic solution Hypertonic solution
(a) Animal cell. An
animal cell fares best
in an isotonic environ- H2O H2O H2O H2O
ment unless it has
special adaptations to
offset the osmotic
uptake or loss of
water.

Lysed Normal Shriveled

(b)Plant cell. Plant cells

are turgid (firm) and
generally healthiest in
a hypotonic environ-
ment, where the
uptake of water is
eventually balanced
by the elastic wall
pushing back on the
cell.
Isotonic Solution
equal solution
concentration
Hypertonic Solution
higher concentrations
of solute
Hypotonic Solution
lower concentration of
 Passive
Transport
- Moves a substance with
the concentration
gradient
- The movement of
particles across a
membrane that
requires no energy.
 Passive transport by
proteins
Facilitated diffusion
Passive transport of
materials across a
membrane using
transport proteins
 Some transport proteins,
called channel proteins,
form channels that allow
specific molecules to flow
through
The movement is with the
concentration gradient, and
requires no energy input
from the cell.
 Carrier proteins are another
type of transport protein. Carrier
proteins change shape to allow a
substance to pass through the
plasma membrane
In facilitated diffusion by carrier
protein, the movement is with
the concentration gradient and
requires no energy input from
the cell
Facilitated A B
diffusion:
diffusion of specific
particles through
transport
proteins found in Facilitate Diffusio
d
the membrane n (Lipid
diffusion Bilayer
a.Transport (Channel )
Proteins are Protein)
specific they
select only
certain
Carrier
molecules to

 Active
Transport
ANALOG
Y:

ENERGY NEEDED:
Active Transport

NO ENERGY
NEEDED:
Diffusion
Osmosis
Facilitated
Diffusion
 A cell can move particles from a
region of lower concentration to a
region of higher concentration, but it
must expend energy to counteract
the force of diffusion that is moving
the particles in the opposite
direction.
Active transport - movement of
materials through a membrane
against a concentration gradient
and requires energy from the cell.
 How active transport
occurs?
In active transport, a
transport protein called a
carrier protein first binds
with a particle of the
substance to be transported.
In general, each type of
carrier protein has a shape
that fits a specific molecule or
 When the proper molecule
binds with the protein,
chemical energy allows the
cell to change the shape of
the carrier protein so that the
particle to be moved is
released on the other side of
the membrane, something
like the opening of a door.
 Once the particle is
released, the proteins
original shape is restored.
Active transport allows
particle movement into or
out of a cell against a
concentration gradient.
Carrier proteins are used in active transport to pick
up ions or molecules from near the cell membrane,
carry them across the membrane, and release them
on the other side.
 Why does active
transport require
energy?
 Compare and
contrast active
transport and
facilitated
diffusion.
 How do carrier
proteins facilitate
passive transport of
molecules across a
membrane?
 All living cells must maintain a
balance regardless of internal
and external conditions.
Survival depends on the cells
ability to maintain the proper
conditions within itself.
Transport of substances across
the cell membrane is required for
cells to maintain homeostasis.
Transport of Large Materials
Some cells can take in large molecules, groups of
molecules, or even whole cells.
Endocytosis
is a process by which a cell surrounds and
takes in material from its environment (as
shown in Figure 8.7.)
This material does not pass directly through the
membrane. Instead, it is engulfed and enclosed
by a portion of the cells plasma membrane.
That portion of the membrane then breaks
away, and the resulting vacuole with its
contents moves to the inside of the cell.
Whitebloodcellengulfing
bacteria(bacillus)
 3 types of ENDOCYTOSIS
1. PHAGOCYTOSIS
- endocytosis of a particulate
material
- cell eating takes in food
2. PINOCYTOSIS
- endocytosis of liquid material
- cell drinking takes in liquid
3. RECEPTOR-MEDIATED
ENDOCYTOSIS
- Is a complicated mechanism involving the
transport of materials through coated vesicles
- Cells take up molecules more efficiently in
this process due to the receptor proteins on
their surfaces
- Each receptor protein bears a binding site for
a particular molecule.
- If the right molecule contacts a receptor
protein, it attaches to the binding site,
forming a pocket and eventually pinching off
into the cytoplasm
Exocytosis
is the expulsion or secretion of
materials from a cell.
Cells use exocytosis to expel
wastes.
They also use this method to
secrete substances, such as
hormones produced by the cell.
Because endocytosis
and exocytosis both
move masses
of material, they both
require energy.
 PASSAGE OF MOLECULES INTO
AND OUT OF THE CELL
Name Direction Requireme Examples
nt
Lipid-soluble
Toward lower
Concentratio molecules,
Diffusion concentratio
PASSIVE n gradient water and
n
TRANSPO gases
RT Toward lower Carrier and
Facilitated Sugars and
concentratio concentratio
transport amino acid
n n gradient
Toward
Sugars,
Active higher Carrier plus
amino acids
transport concentratio energy
and ions
ACTIVE n
TRANSPO Toward Vesicle Macromolecu
Endocytosis
RT inside formation les
Vesicle fuses Macromolecu
Toward
Exocytosis with plasma les
outside
 Thinking Critically

A paramecium expels water

when it is in a fresh water.
What can you conclude
about the concentration
gradient in the organisms
environment?
Assignment
1. Why does putting salt on
meat preserve it from
spoilage by bacteria?
2. Make a concept map about
the different transport
mechanisms.