The Role Of Proteins Of Cell Membrane Transport

1.Discuss the structure of the plasma membrane and explain the process of active and passive transport through the membrane.

If the solution in the left beaker contained both urea and albumin, which membrane(s) could you choose to selectively remove the urea from the solution in the left beaker? How would you carry out this experiment?

Phospholipids make up most of the cell membrane, in a phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipid molecules form two layers, with the hydrophilic (water loving) head facing the extracellular fluid and the cytosol (intracellular) fluid, and the hydrophobic (not water loving) tails facing one another. The cell membrane is constructed in such a way that it is semipermeable, and allows oxygen, CO2 and lipid soluble molecules through easily, while other molecules like glucose, amino acids, water, and ions cannot pass through quite as easily. That is the meaning behind the chant “some things can pass, others cannot!”.

Explain the effect that increasing the Na+ Cl- concentration has on osmotic pressure and why it has this effect. How well did the results compare with your prediction?

The purpose of these experiments is to examine the driving force behind the movement of substances across a selective or semiperpeable plasma membrane. Experiment simulations examine substances that move passively through a semipermeable membrane, and those that require active transport. Those that move passively through the membrane will do so in these simulations by facilitated diffusion and filtration. The plasma membrane’s structure is composed in such a way that it can discriminate as to which substances can pass into the cell. This enables nutrients to enter the cell, while keeping unwanted substances out. Active

Membranes can allow or exclude various molecules, and because of selective transport systems (active mediated transport), they can move molecules in and out of the space. Membrane channels, or “gates,” can open and close depending on the circumstances of the first messenger. Binding of an extracellular messenger to a dual receptor/channel brings about a quick

A major determinant of diffusion in a biological system is membrane permeability. Small, uncharged molecules pass through cellular membranes easily, while most and/or charged molecules cannot pass through the membrane. The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane, like the plasma membrane

1. In passive transport, what determines the direction of movement of small particles? The direction of movement of particles in passive transport is determined by the concentration gradient (diffusion) between the cytoplasm and the extracellular fluid. 2. Why do the molecules in facilitated diffusion need help moving across the plasma membrane? Likely, the molecules are too large to pass unaided through the plasma membrane with the concentration gradient; they need to pass through special transport proteins.

List three criteria cells use to select materials to enter or leave the cell. Then explain the role of each criterion in determining the type of transport a cell will use for different sized molecules. For instance, small molecules move across the membrane by diffusion, given they are moving with the concentration gradient.

The cell membrane consists of eight distinctive parts that each have their own unique structure and function. The phospholipid bilayer is an integral part of the cell membrane because it is the external layer of the cell membrane and composes the barriers that isolate the internal cell components and organelles from the extracellular environment. It is composed of a series of phospholipids that have a hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region. These regions are composed of the hydrophilic heads and the hydrophobic tails of the phospholipids, this organization of the polar heads and nonpolar tails allows the heads of the cell to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules while the tails are able to avoid water. The phospholipid bilayer also has many important functions within the cell, it gives the cell shape, provides protection, and it is selectively permeable which allows it to only let very specific molecules pass through its surface. The phospholipid bilayer is an important structure because it prevents harmful and unwanted molecules from entering the cell and isolates organelles which helps to maintain the internal environmental homeostasis of the cell.

In this lab, neutral red was used as a pH indicator. The color changes from yellow to red in a basic solution to an acidic solution. The neutral red dye was applied to Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. When the S. Cerevisiae cells come in contact with the neutral red dye, the dye gets to the cell by crossing the cell membrane. The cell membrane is the outer surface of the cell that functions as a barrier. The outside of the cell membrane is made of lipid and membrane proteins (Hardin, 2012). It is selectively permeable, which means only select ions and molecules can pass through it by transport. Membrane transport can be actively or passively moving a substance from side of the membrane to another (Hardin, 2012). Passive transport does not require energy to move molecules across the cell membrane. Diffusion is a form of passive transport that moves molecules across the membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Osmosis, diffusion, and facilitated diffusion are all examples of passive transport. Active transport requires energy to move molecules across the membrane from areas of lower concentration to higher concentration. It requires energy because it pushes sodium ions (Na+) and potassium ions (K+) (Hardin, 2012). When the dye entered the cell, it also showed its location. Sodium azide (Na+N3-) is a metabolic inhibitor that blocks the flow of electrons along

Cell membrane is a selective boundary composed of a unique phospholipid bi-layer structure consisting of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. This structure regulates the import and export to maintain homeostasis condition inside the cell. (Knox et al., 2014) The plasma membrane is referred as a fluid mosaic which also has selective permeability. The permeability of the membrane can be varied depending on the external conditions. (Mitchel, 2015)

All cells contain membranes that are selectively permeable, allowing certain things to pass into and leave out of the cell. The process in which molecules of a substance move from an area of high concentration to areas of low concentration is called Diffusion. Whereas Osmosis is the process in which water crosses membranes from regions of high water concentration to areas with low water concentration. While molecules in diffusion move down a concentration gradient, molecules during osmosis both move down a concentration gradient as well as across it. Both diffusion, and osmosis are types of passive transport, which do not require help.

To study the effects of hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions on plant and animal cells.

Only uncharged, small, polar molecules, (such as water) and hydrophobic molecules, (such as oxygen, carbon dioxide) and lipid-soluble molecules (such as hydrocarbons) can freely pass across the membrane. All ions and large polar molecules (such as glucose) are not permeable to the membrane.