Chapter 3: Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane 3.1 Movement across the Plasma Membrane 1.

Function: a) Regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell. b) Helps the cell to maintain a constant internal environment (homeostasis). The structure of the plasma membrane

1. Phospholipid a) Arranged in a bilayer. b) Each molecule has a polar head (hydrophilic). c) A pair of non-polar tails (hydrophobic). d) Function: Acts as a barrier which isolates the two sides of the membranes. 2. Protein a) Partially attached to the surface or wholly embedded in the membrane. b) Pore protein forms a channel or pore. c) Carrier protein protein molecule that acts as a carrier. d) Glycoprotein membrane proteins that have carbohydrates attached. 3. Cholesterol a) Function: helps to stabilize and strengthen the plasma membrane. : makes it more flexible, and less permeable to water soluble substances such as ions. 4. Characteristic (fluid-mosaic model): a) dynamic b) fluidity of the membrane makes the cell flexible. c) protein molecules float about in the phospholipid bilayer to form a mosaic pattern that is always changing

The permeability of the plasma membrane

1. Plasma membrane is selective permeable (semi-permeable). 2. Factors that determine whether a molecule can pass through the plasma membrane: a) size of the molecule b) polarity of the molecule 3. Molecules that can pass through Lipid soluble molecules (fatty acids and glycerol) Non polar molecules (Oxygen and carbon dioxide) Water Large water soluble molecules (glucose and amino acid) Why? Phospholipid bilayer forms the major part of the plasma membrane. Water molecules are small and can slide between the phospholipid bilayer or through the protein pores. Aided by the carrier protein.

4. Pore protein allow small water soluble molecules and ions to pass through. 5. Carrier proteins have sites that can bind to specific molecules (glucose), before transporting them across the plasma membrane. The movement of substances across the plasma membrane: passive transport 1. Movement of substances does not require energy. Simple diffusion

1. Energy not required. 2. Small molecules such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and lipid soluble molecules are involved. 3. Net movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, thus going down concentration gradient until an equilibrium is achieved. 4. Can be observed in liquids or gases. Osmosis: the diffusion of water

1. Involves only water molecules. 2. Net movement of freely moving water molecules from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. Facilitated diffusion 1. Does not require energy. 2. Aided by carrier and pore protein. 3. Moves against the concentration gradient. 4. Molecules and ions that are involved: a) nucleic acid b) amino acids c) glucose 5. Carrier proteins are specific as each can only combine with a certain type of molecule. 6. Carrier protein functions by binding to the molecules. 7. Carrier protein then changes shape to allow the molecules to pass through.

8. After assisting the movement of a molecule to the other side of the plasma membrane it is free to assist the passage of other similar molecules. 9. Carrier protein can transport solute molecules in either direction. 10. Pore proteins forms pores or channels through which dissolved particles (ions) can diffuse across the plasma membrane. 11. Pores have specific interior characteristics that only allow specific ions to pass through them. The movement of substances across the plasma membrane: active transport

1. Movement of molecules or ions against the concentration gradient across the plasma membrane. 2. Requires carrier protein and energy (ATP). 3. Carrier protein (pumps) has an active site which binds to a particular molecule or ion and another active site which binds to the ATP molecule. 4. Carrier protein changes shape when the phosphate group from the ATP molecule binds to it. 5. The solute then moves across the membrane. 6. Results in the accumulation or elimination of molecules and ions from the cells. 7. In an animal cell, the sodium-potassium pumps help to maintain the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium. 8. Concentration of potassium ions inside the cell is always higher than the concentration outside the cell. 9. While the concentration of sodium ions outside the cell is always higher than the concentration inside the cells. 10. The pump helps to pump potassium out and sodium in.

The process of passive and active transport in living organisms 1. Absorption of digested food in the villi. 2. Gaseous exchange in the alveolus. 3. Absorption of ions and water by root. 3.2 Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane in Everyday Life The effects of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions on animal and plant cell

Animal and plant cells in isotonic solution 1. All cells contain salt solutions and other solutes. 2. In plants, the solutes are located at the vacuole. 3. In plants, cell wall is fully permeable to solutes and water. 4. Water always flows in the direction that tends to equal the water concentration on both sides of the cell. 5. Interstitial fluid surrounding animal cells is usually isotonic to the cytoplasmic fluid within each cell. 6. Isotonic solution in which the solute concentration is equal to that of the cytoplasmic fluid. - water diffuses into and out of the cell at equal rates. - no net movement of water across the plasma membrane. - cell retains its normal shape. 7. Human cells are isotonic to a 0.9% saline solution (salt water).

Animal and plant cells in a hypotonic solution 1. Hypotonic solution when the concentration of solute outside a cell is lower than the concentration of solute inside the cell. 2. There is a net movement of water from the outside into the cell. 3. Water enters the cell, causing it to swell up. 4. Haemolysis occurs in red blood cell when exposed to extremely hypotonic solution. - causes the cell to swell and burst. - because the plasma membrane of RBC is too thin and delicate to withstand the osmotic pressure. 5. Turgidity Occurs in plant cells when exposed to extremely hypotonic solution. - Water diffuses into the large central vacuole by osmosis and causes the vacuole to expand and swell up. - Cell becomes turgid. - The plant cell does not burst because the rigid cell wall is strong enough to resist the pressure. - Turgor pressure is important to plant cells in supporting and maintaining the shape of the cells. - Responsible for causing the guard cells of a leaf to swell, so that the stomata remains open for photosynthesis.

Animal and plant cells in a hypertonic solution 1. Hypertonic solution a solution in which the concentration of solutes in the solution is higher than the concentration of solutes within the cell. 2. Net movement of water from the inside to the outside of the cell. 3. Cell will shrink and the plasma membrane crinkle up. 4. Red blood cells undergo crenation. 5. Flaccidity Water diffuses out of the large central vacuole by osmosis.. - Plasmolysis occur - vacuole and cytoplasm shrink and the plasma membrane pull away from the cell wall. - Cell becomes flaccid. - The cellulose wall does not shrink because it is strong. - Causes the plant leaves to become limp and the stem to droop (wilting occurs). 6. If plasmolysis is prolonged, it can lead to the death of the cell. 7. Deplasmolysis: When a plasmolysed cell is immersed in a hypotonic solution, it will become turgid.

The effects and application of osmosis in everyday life

Human cells 1. The interstitial fluid is isotonic to the cytoplasmic fluid in cells, so the rate at which water enters and leaves the cells by osmosis is the same. Paramecium sp. 1. Paramecium sp. that live in freshwater is surrounded by a hypotonic solution. 2. This causes water to flow into the cytoplasm by osmosis. 3. The organism has a contractile vacuole to expel water. Plants 1. If plants are given too much of fertilizer or if drought occurs, wilting occurs in plants. 2. Fertilisers such as potassium nitrate when dissolved in the soil water will make the soil water concentrated and hypertonic to the cell sap of the roots. 3. This causes water to diffuse from the cell sap into the soil by osmosis and the cells are plasmolysed. 4. This happens commonly in herbaceous plants where turgidity plays an important role in supporting the plants. 5. A wilting plant eventually dies if the plant is not watered immediately. Preserving foods 1. Food such as mushrooms, fruits, vegetables and fish can be preserved longer using natural preservatives (salt and sugar). 2. Natural preservatives will make the solution outside the food more hypertonic compared to the contents of the food. 3. The hypertonic solution causes water to leave the food by osmosis. 4. The cells is the food substances become dehydrated. 5. At the same time, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi also lose water by osmosis to the surrounding solution and will eventually die. 6. The food will last longer. 3.3 Appreciating the Movement of Substances across the Plasma Membrane 1. Importance of the movement of substnces across the plasma membrane: a) essential process can be carried out. b) survival of the cells. 2. How to care for our plasma membrane: a) Drink sufficient water daily to prevent dehydration and to maintain osmotic pressure.