Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances

Across The Plasma Membrane

3.1 Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Movement Across The Plasma

Membrane

Substances required by cell are nutrients and oxygen.

Metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide have to be eliminated from

cells.

Concentration of ion inside cell must be different than outside cell.

To maintain these concentrations, cells must allow required

substances from surrounding to enter and waste products to leave.

Movement of substances in and out of cells is regulated by plasma

membrane.

Plasma membrane also helps to maintain a constant cellular

environment (homeostasis).

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

The Structure Of The Plasma Membrane

glycoprotein
pore

phospholipid
bilayer

carrier protein

pore protein non-polar

tails phospholipid
cholesterol
polar head

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

The Permeability Of The Plasma

Membrane

Plasma membrane is semi-permeable.

Factors that determine whether a molecule can pass through plasma

membrane are size and polarity of molecule.

Pore proteins allow small water-soluble molecules and ion to pass through.

Carrier proteins only allow larger uncharged polar molecules to pass

through.

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

The Movement Of The Substances

• Lipid-soluble molecules: Fatty

Substances that acids and glycerol. • Hydrophobic tails
can pass through prevent polar
• Non-polar molecules : O2 and molecule from
CO2 passing through.

• Water (polar
molecule) can
• Large water-soluble pass through
Substances that plasma
molecules: glucose and amino
can’t pass through membrane since
acid.
its small in size.

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Passive Transport

• Movement of substances across plasma membrane

without using energy.

• Example : Gaseous exchange in alveolus and blood

capillary.

3 Types Of Passive
Transport

Simple diffusion Osmosis Facilitated diffusion

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Passive Transport

Simple Diffusion

Net movement of molecules or ion from region of higher

concentration to region of lower concentration until an
equilibrium is achieve.

Dynamic equilibrium is where concentration gradient no

longer exists.

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane
Passive Transport

Osmosis : The Diffusion Of Water

Water molecules:

Solute:

• Net movement of water molecules from low solute concentration region to high
solute concentration region through semi-permeable membrane.

• High water concentration = low concentration of solute in water.

• Semi-permeable membrane - permeable to water but not to solutes like

sucrose

• Essential because cells need adequate water to function well.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Passive Transport

Facilitated Diffusion

• Movement of substances across plasma membrane with aid of

carrier proteins and pore proteins following concentration gradient.

• Ions, nucleic acids, amino acids and glucose can pass through
plasma membrane by facilitated diffusion.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Facilitated Diffusion - Carrier Protein

Outside of cell

Glucose

Inside of cell

Carrier protein binds Carrier protein is then After that, carrier

with glucose changes shape to protein assist passage
molecules. allow molecules to of another glucose
pass through. molecules.

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Facilitated Diffusion - Pore Protein

Pore protein

Cell
membrane

• Pore proteins form pores or channels.

• Pores have specified interior characteristics that only have allow specified
ions to pass through.

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Active Transport

Movement of molecules or ions against concentration

gradient across plasma membrane.

Require carrier protein and energy.

Energy comes from ATP generated during respiration in

mitochondria.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

The Mechanism Of Active Transport For

Sodium Ions

Carrier
protein Na+

Na+

Na+
Carrier protein has an Carrier protein Solute is moved
active site to bind with changes shape when across membrane.
molecule and another phosphate group from
active site to bind with ATP molecule bind to
ATP. it.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Active Transport For Sodium - Potassium Ion In Animal Cells

Carrier protein often Concentration of K+ Sodium-potassium

called pumps. inside cell is higher pumps help to
than concentration maintain concentration
outside cell while gradient by pumping
concentration of Na+ Na+ out of cell and K+
is vice versa. into cell.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Across The Plasma Membrane

Comparison Between Passive Transport And Active Transport

Passive Transport Active Transport

Concentration Against concentration
Follow concentration gradient
gradient gradient

Does not expend energy Energy Need to expend energy

Take place in living cells or

Condition Take place in living cells
non-living cells

Active
Passive transport transport

Diffusion
Facilitated
diffusion

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances
Across The Plasma Membrane

3.2 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In

Everyday Life

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

Hypotonic, Hypertonic And Isotonic

Solution

• Hypotonic solution is when concentration of solution is lower than

cell.

• Hypertonic solution is solution with higher concentration of solutes

than cell.

• Isotonic solution is solution with equal solute concentration.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

The Effect Of Hypotonic Solution

On Plant Cell On Animal Cell

Water enters large centre Water enters cell and
vacuole by osmosis causes causes it to swell up and
it to expand, swell up and eventually to burst.
becomes turgid.
Rigid cell wall prevents cell Red blood cells will undergo
from bursting. haemolysis.

water
water molecules
molecules

vacuole fills
with water
and expands

water water
molecules molecules

When immersed in distilled water When immersed in distilled water

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

The Effect Of Hypertonic Solution

On Plant Cell On Animal Cell

Cell undergoes plasmolysis. Red blood cell undergoes

crenation
Cells become flaccid, Blood cell shrivel and
causing the plant to wilt. plasma membrane crinkle
Vacuole up.
shrinks Cell wall

When immersed in 30% sucrose When immersed in 4% sodium

solution chloride solution

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

The Effect Of Isotonic Solution

On Plant Cell On Animal Cell

Water diffuses into and out Net movement of water is

of cell at equal rate. zero.

The cell retains its normal There is no change in the

shape. size of cell

Water
molecules move
at the same rate
in both
directions
When immersed in 5% sucrose When immersed in 0.85% sodium
solution chloride solution

ITeach – Biology Form 4

 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

Excessive use of fertiliser causes plant to wilt.

Potassium nitrate cause soil to turn hypertonic to

plant cell when dissolved in soil water.
The Phenomenon
Of Wilting In
Plants Therefore, water diffuses from cell sap into the
soil by osmosis and plasmolysis occur.

Lack of water in soil also causes plant to wilt.

Soil water becomes more concentrated. Plant

loses water and cells become plasmolysed.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane In Everyday Life

The Preservation Of Food

• Preservatives with salt cause solution outside the food

more hypertonic than the food.

• This causes water to diffuse out of the food by osmosis.

• Cells in the food substances lose water

• These are not conducive to the growth of microorganisms

such as bacteria and fungi and will eventually die.

• Thus, food can last longer.

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances
Across The Plasma Membrane

3.3 Appreciating The Movement Of Substances Across The

Plasma Membrane

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 Chapter 3 Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane
Appreciating The Movement Of Substances Across The Plasma Membrane

Appreciating The Movement Of Substances Across

The Plasma Membrane

Plasma membrane function as a barrier between contents of

cell and external environment.

Crucial processes in the cells cannot be carried out if there is

any flaw in plasma membrane.

Proper functioning of plasma membrane is important:

- To remove toxic substance
- To obtain certain food supplies for energy and raw materials.

Good function of plasma membrane can be maintained by

taking care of our food and water intake.

ITeach – Biology Form 4