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Physiology Exam 1 > 1 - Membrane Transport > Flashcards

1 - Membrane Transport Flashcards

1
Q

What is osmosis?

A

The movement of water across a SELECTIVELY permeable membrane

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2
Q

What direction will water flow across a selectively permeable membrane?

A

Water will move from high concentration of water to low concentration of water

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3
Q

What does semi-permeable mean?

A

Water (the solvent) can diffuse through a membrane that is impermeable to the solute

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4
Q

What is necessary for a membrane to be permeable to water?

A

It must contain aquaporins

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5
Q

What determines the rate of osmosis?

A

The number of aquaporin channels

When then number of aquaporin channels increases, the rate of osmosis increases

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6
Q

What is simple diffusion?

A

The movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of low concentration of that substance

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7
Q

What types of particles can pass through a membrane by simple diffusion?

A
  • Gasses such as O2 and CO2

- Small, uncharged polar molecules

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8
Q

What does simple diffusion only work for those types of molecules?

A

Because of the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer, it is mostly impermeable to water-soluble molecules and ions

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9
Q

What is another name for facilitated diffusion?

A

Carrier-mediated

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10
Q

What is facilitated diffusion?

A

Protein-mediated transport of a SINGLE type of molecule, such as glucose or other small hydrophilic molecules, down a concentration gradient across a cellular membrane

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11
Q

What are uniporters?

A

Proteins that transport only one substance

Example: Facilitated transport of glucose

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12
Q

What 8 factors control SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A 
1 - Lipid solubility
2 - Molecular size 
3 - Cell membrane thickness
4 - Concentration gradient
5 - Membrane surface area
6 - Composition of lipid bilayer
7 - Temperature
8 - Pressure difference across the membrane (special cases)
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13
Q

How does lipid solubility control SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

Increased lipid solubility is associated with an increased permeability of the lipid bilayer

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14
Q

How do you know the lipid solubility of a substance?

A

The lipid solubility of a substance can be indicated by the oil-water partition coefficient of the substance

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15
Q

How does the molecular size of the diffusing substance control SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

As molecular size (molecular radius OR molecular weight) of the diffusing substance increases, the rate of diffusion decreases

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16
Q

How does the cell membrane thickness control the SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

The rate of diffusion decreases as the thickness of the membrane increases

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17
Q

How does pneumonia change the rate of SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

Pneumonia has a disease process that increases the diffusion distances (makes the membrane thickness greater), which decreases the rate of diffusion

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18
Q

How does the concentration gradient control the SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

The greater the difference in concentration, the faster the rate of net diffusion

Substances ALWAYS diffuse down their concentration gradient

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19
Q

How does the membrane surface area control the SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

The larger the surface area, the larger the rate of net diffusion

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20
Q

How does temperature control the SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

In general, substances diffuse more rapidly as the temperature is raised

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21
Q

How does the pressure difference across the membrane control the SIMPLE diffusion through a membrane?

A

Hydrostatic pressure differences are important for transport through capillary walls and will be discussed later in renal

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22
Q

What 4 factors control diffusion through pores or channels in the membrane?

A

1 - Permeability
2 - Selectivity
3 - Concentration gradient
4 - Aquaporins

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23
Q

How does permeability control diffusion through pores or channels in the membrane?

A

Number of channels, percentage of open channels, etc.

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24
Q

How does selectivity control diffusion through pores or channels in the membrane?

A

The physical structure of the channel and the distribution of charges in the channel can control which ions can move through the channel

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25
Q

How does the concentration gradient control diffusion through pores or channels in the membrane?

A

Electrochemical concentration gradient in the case of ions

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26
Q

How do aquaporins (AQPS) control diffusion through pores or channels in the membrane?

A

The permeability of aquaporins may be modulated by various factors including pH

Water movement through aquaporins can be regulated by insertion or removal of the proteins from the cell membrane

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27
Q

Describe the role of aquaporins (AQPS)

A

Aquaporins are proteins that form water channels through the cell membrane

The rate of osmosis increases when the number of water channel aquaporins in the membrane is increased

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28
Q

What 3 factors influence the rate of FACILITATED diffusion through uniporters?

A

1 - Number of transporters
2 - Concentration gradient
3 - Substance affinity for transporter

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29
Q

How does the number of transporters influence the rate of FACILITATED diffusion through uniporters?

A
  • Transport occurs via a limited number of uniporter molecules
  • This means there is a maximum rate (Vmax) that depends on the number of uniporters in the membrane
    Vmax is achieved when the concentration gradient across the membrane is very large and each uniporter is working at the maximal rate
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30
Q

How does the concentration gradient influence the rate of FACILITATED diffusion through uniporters?

A

Since the transport direction through uniporters is reversible, the direction of transport will change if the direction of the concentration gradient changes

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31
Q

How does the substance affinity for the transporter influence the rate of FACILITATED diffusion through uniporters?

A

Km is a measure of the affinity a transporter and substance have for each other (it is a transporter-substance constant)

32
Q

How do you measure Km?

A

Km is measure by HALF of the concentration of a substrate at which the transporter is function at HALF its maximal capacity

33
Q

What are the limitations of uniporters in FACILITATED diffusion?

A
  • Uniporters CANNOT transport uncharged substances against the concentration gradient
  • Uniporters CANNOT transport ions against electro chemical potential gradients
34
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the carrier molecule?

A

Facilitated - requires a carrier protein

Active - requires a special carrier molecule

35
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the rate of transport

A

Facilitated - speed depends on concentration gradient and the maximum rate is limited by the number of channels

Active - will also have a determined rate maximum

36
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the specificity

A

Facilitated - transport of a substrate is specific based on the type of molecule (it is limited to a single type or a single group of closely related molecules)

Active - transport of a substrate is specific based on the chemical properties of the substrate and the sterospecificity

37
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the competition

A

Facilitated - does NOT demonstrate competition between different molecules because it is specific for only one

Active - demonstrates both competitive and non-competitive inhibition

38
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the energy requirement

A

Facilitated - does NOT require energy

Active - requires energy, which is acquired through the hydrolysis of ATP or another high every phosphate compound

39
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the transport of uncharged substances?

A

Facilitated - cannot transport uncharged substances against the concentration gradient

Active - can transport uncharged substances against a concentration gradient

40
Q

What is the difference between facilitated diffusion and active transport in terms of the transport of ions

A

Facilitated - cannot transport ions against an electrochemical potential gradient

Active - can transport ions against an electrochemical potential gradient

41
Q

What does uniport mean?

A

A carrier transports only one substance

Example: facilitated transport (or carrier-mediated diffusion) of glucose

42
Q

What does carrier-mediated transport mean?

A

Requires that two or more substances be moved through the membrane together

43
Q

What does symport mean?

A

Two or more substances transported in the SAME direction (AKA co-transprot)

44
Q

What does antiport mean?

A

Two or more transported substances move in OPPOSITE directions though a membrane

45
Q

What are ABC transporters?

A

ATP binding cassettes

ABC transporters are utilized in primary ACTIVE transport and all have a common ATP-binding domain (the cassette).

46
Q

How do ABC transporters get energy for active transport?

A

Some ABC proteins (but not all) hydrolyze ATP to provide energy for solute transport.

47
Q

What is the function of the ABC proteins that do NOT hydrolyze ATP for energy?

A
  • Some do not hydrolyze ATP but the ATP regulates the ABC protein function
  • Some ABC proteins actually act as an ion channel or regulate ion channels or transporters
48
Q

What are two examples of ABC proteins that are clinically relevant?

A

CFTR protein

MRD protein

49
Q

Describe the clinical relevance of the CFTR protein

A
  • CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) is a member of the ABC superfamily
  • CFTR functions as a low-conductance Cl-channel and a regulator of other channels
  • Opening and closing of the channel is controlled by the binding of ATP to the CFTR
  • Mutations in the gene for CFTR causes cystic fibrosis
50
Q

What are MDR protiens?

A

Multi-drug resistance proteins

51
Q

Describe the clinical relevance of MDR proteins

A
  • When these ABC transporters are overexpressed in tumors, they cause resistance to cnacer drug therapy
  • The cancer drug is transported out of the cancer cell before it can kill the cell
52
Q

Describe endocytosis

A

The plasma membrane invaginates, or folds inward, forming a vesicle that brings substances into the cell

53
Q

Describe exocytosis

A

Material inside the cell is packaged into vesicles which are then excreted from the cell into the extracellular medium

54
Q

What are some examples of clinically relevant exocytosis?

A
  • Release of neurotransmitters at a synapse

- Release of hormones by endocrine cells

55
Q

What are the 5 types of endocytosis?

A 
1 - Phagocytosis
2 - Pinocytosis 
3 - Fluid-phase endocytosis
4 - Receptor-mediated endocytosis
5 - Caveolae endocytosis
56
Q

What is phagocytosis?

A

A type of endocytosis described as “cell eating” - it is only done by specialized cells such as macrophages and neutrophils

57
Q

What is pinocytosis?

A

A type of endocytosis described as “cell drinking” - ALL cells perform pinocytosis

58
Q

What is fluid-phase endocytosis?

A

This is the random uptake of materials that are dissolved in the extracellular fluid that surrounds a cell

59
Q

Are the materials imported into the cell by fluid-phase endocytosis bound to receptors?

A

NO - the import consists of random materials in the extracellular fluid

60
Q

Do all types of fluid-phase endocytosis involve the utilization of the protein clathrin?

A

No, but some types do

61
Q

Describe the steps of fluid-phase endocytosis with the utilization of clathrin

A
  • A clathrin cage assembles on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane
  • The clathrin cage is attached to the membrane via interactions with adaptin proteins
  • Adaptin proteins are adheared to the cytoplasmic tail domains of certain transmembrane polypeptides
  • The adherent membrane invaginates into the clathrin cage, forming a coated pit
  • Once the clathrin cage is completed, the closed vesicle detaches from the cell membrane
62
Q

Does the formation of the clathrin cage require energy?

A

No - the formation of the clathrin cage is spontaneous and energetically favorable

63
Q

I thought endocytosis required energy though… Which stage of this process requires ATP?

A

Once the vesicle has detached from the cell membrane, the clathrin cage is removed through the actions of special cytoplasmic enzymes that use the energy of ATP to disassemble the clathrin cage

64
Q

Is the fluid-phase endocytosis an efficient way to transport a specific substance into the cell?

A

No - very inefficient because of the randomness of the selection for import

65
Q

How much target substance is brought into the cell via fluid-phase endocytosis?

A

Not much… Most target substances are at a low concentration in the extracellular fluid and not much fluid is brought into the cell via a vesicle

66
Q

What is receptor-mediated endocytosis?

A

This method of endocytosis can concentrate specific receptor proteins to the site of endocytosis for selective import into the cell

67
Q

How do the receptors form at the site of endocytosis?

A

The receptor proteins have cytoplasmic tails that bind to adaptins that in turn associate with clathrin

68
Q

How do the receptors work?

A
  • At the clathrin cages for coated pits, the receptor proteins are included in the selection of membrane that becomes the endocytotic vessel
  • Thus the substance bound to the receptor is transported into the cell
69
Q

Do the receptor proteins bind to the adaptin before or after they have found their substrate?

A

It depends on the receptor…

  • Some receptor proteins bind to their adaptins whether or not they have bound to their ligand
  • Some receptors only interact with their adaptins when the receptor is in the bound state
70
Q

Why is the receptor-mediated method of endocytosis clinically important?

A
  • Receptor-mediated endocytosis is important for the transport of low-density lipoprotiens and associated cholesterol into the cells
71
Q

What happens when individuals lack LDL receptors or have defective LDL receptors?

A

They have high levels of cholesterol-laden LDL in their blood - this predisposes these people to developing atherosclerosis and heart disease

72
Q

What is caveolae endocytosis?

A

A similar process to clathrin-mediated endocytosis, but the process uses caveolae and caveolin as the coated protein

73
Q

What are caveolae?

A

Well defined invaginations in the plasma membrane (diameter of about 100 nm), which are considered to be a special type of “lipid raft”

74
Q

How is the caveolae composition different from other lipid rafts?

A

These lipid rafts are stabilized by the protein caveolin

75
Q

What is the major role of caveolae?

A

The uptake of material into cells via caveolae-mediated endocytosis

76
Q

Why is clathrin important for fluid-mediated and receptor-mediated endocytosis?

A

Clatherin cages and coated pits are energetically favorable and form readily, meaning that they initiate the process of endocytosis in both fluid-phase endocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis

Physiology Exam 1 (7 decks)

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