8.6: Ions, vitamins & minerals Flashcards
Define diffusion
Net random movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to low concentration
Does diffusion occur more rapidly over microscopic distances in comparison to macroscopic distances?
Yes
What typically acts as a diffusion barrier in cells?
Cell membrane (enables cells to maintain cytoplasmic concentration of substances different from their extracellular concentrations)
Can water soluble (polar) molecules cross the diffusion barrier more easily than lipid soluble (non-polar) molecules?
No (Lipid soluble molecules can diffuse passively with minimal resistance in comparison to water soluble)
What word describes a region which has a relatively higher water potential to its surroundings?
Hypotonic
What 2 methods can molecules use to cross the epithelium to enter the bloodstream?
Paracellular transport through tight junctions and lateral intercellular spaces.
Transcellular transport through the epithelial cells.
What 3 methods can solutes
Simple diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Active transport
What are the 2 types of transport proteins involved and describe how each work?
Channel proteins - form aqueous pores allowing specific solutes to pass across the membrane.
Carrier proteins - bind to the solute and undergo a conformational change to transport it across the membrane.
(Channel proteins allow faster transport than carrier proteins).
3 types of carrier-mediated transport
Unilorters
Symporters - coupled transport
Antiporters - coupled transport
3 examples of uniporters
GLUT
VGCC
VGSC
Example of a symporter
Na+/glucose symporter (SGLT)
Example of an antiporter
Na+/H+ antiporter
What is the difference between primary and secondary active transport?
Primary active transport is linked directly to cellular metabolism whereas secondary active transport uses energy from the concentration gradient of another substance that is actively transported.
Give two examples of primary active transporters and where they’ve found
Na+/K+ ATPase (pancreatic HCO3- secretion)
H+/K+ ATPase (stomach - parietal cell)
Give examples of 3 secondary active transporters and where they’re found
SGLT-1 co-tranpsorter (Small bowel absorption of monosaccharides)
HCO3-/Cl- counter transport (Pancreatic HCO3- Secretion)
Na+/H+ counter transport (Pancreatic HCO3- Secretion)
Give examples of facilitated diffusion transporters and where they’re found
GLUT-2, GLUT-5 (Small bowel absorption of monosaccharides)
How are glucose and galactose absorbed?
Absorption of glucose and galactose is done by secondary AT (carrier proteins (SGLT-1) on enterocyte apical membrane, and electrochemical gradient)
SGLT-I has the ability to transport glucose against concentration gradient, therefore effective when extracellular luminal concentrations are comparatively less than that in enterocytes
How is fructose absorbed?
Via facilitated diffusion using the carrier protein GLUT-5 on the apical membrane. Effective at relatively low concentrations of fructose in the lumen as tissue and plasma levels are low.
How does glucose exit through the basolateral membrane and what carrier protein is involved?
Facilitated diffusion, carrier protein is GLUT-2 (high capacity, low affinity facilitative transporter).
In what part of the GI system is the greatest amount of water absorbed?
Small bowel (especially in the jejunum)
Approximately how many litres of water are absorbed in the small and large bowel daily?
Small bowel - 8L
Large bowl - 1.4L
Explain how the standing gradient osmosis is created.
Transport of Na+ from lumen into enterocyte. Counter-transport (antiporter) through H+ exchange within duodenum.
Co-transport (Symport) with AAs and monosaccharides (Jejunum)
Co-transport with Cl- (ileum)
Restricted movement through ion channels (Colon)
(Generation of an increased intracellular solute concentration gradient within cytoplasm facilitates the movement of H20 through osmosis (High → Low H2O water potential))