Chapter 13- Membrane channels and pumps Flashcards
3 classes of transporters that make membranes permeable to specific molecules
ATP-driven pumps, carriers, and channels. The nature of the membrane transporters dictates the biochemical processes that occur inside the cell.
Which type of molecules does not require the assistance of proteins to cross the cell membrane?
Lipophilic (or hydrophobic) molecules can pass directly through phospholipid bilayers down their concentration gradients in the process of simple diffusion. They do not require the assistance of proteins.
Which molecules require the presence of a protein channel to move across a membrane?
Polar or fully charged molecules require the presence of a channel to move across a membrane down their concentration gradient. Such movement is called facilitated diffusion or passive transport
Active transport
Moving a molecule across a membrane against its concentration gradient, requires energy
Membrane potential
The free energy of a solute that has an unequal distribution of a charged molecule. It takes into account the concentration differences and charge difference
Na/K pump
Most animal cells contain a high concentration of K+ and a
low concentration of Na+ relative to the external environment. To generate and maintain this membrane potential requires the
action of an active transport system, the Na/K pump. The pump is a member of the P-type ATPase family.
P-type ATPases
ATPases that form a phosphorylated aspartate intermediate.
What does the Na/K pump use as a source of energy?
ATP hydrolysis
What 2 conformations must pumps exist in?
One with the ion binding site facing into the cell and one with the binding site facing out of the cell. ATP hydrolysis powers the interconversion of the two conformations- as the conformation changes, the molecule is able to pass through the membrane
SERCA
Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase- a P-type ATPase, pumps calcium from muscle cytoplasm into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. It is a single polypeptide chain with a transmembrane domain consisting of 10 α helices.
3 domains of the cytoplasmic portion of the SERCA enzyme
- N domain- binds ATP
- P domain- accepts the phosphate during the reaction cycle;
- A domain- links the N and P domains
Steps of the catalytic/transport cycle of P-type ATPases (6)
- Binding of cytoplasmic calcium
- ATP binding by the N domain
- Transfer of a phosphoryl group to an aspartate in the P domain
- ADP is released and a structural change occurs so that the calcium binding site now faces the sarcoplasmic reticulum lumen and the calcium leaves the enzyme.
- The phosphoryl group in the P domain is hydrolyzed.
- The enzyme changes conformation so that the calcium binding site again faces the cytoplasm
Cardiotonic steroids
Found in foxglove- inhibit Na/K ATPase and are used to treat congestive heart failure. The decrease in the Na+ gradient
results in slower removal of Ca2+ from the cell, and The increase in cellular Ca2+ enhances the contractile ability of the heart.
Which other molecules are part of the same class of inhibitors as cardiotonic steroids?
Digitoxigenin and ouabain
The human genome contains how many genes encoding P-type
ATPases?
70
Which molecules are transported by p-type ATPases?
Some transport ions such as H+, Ca2+, or Na+, while others transport metals such as Cu2+ or even phospholipids with charged head groups
What is the reaction mechanism of p-type ATPases?
All members of this protein family have the same fundamental reaction mechanism: taking advantage of the free energy release associated with ATP hydrolysis to drive membrane transport by means of conformational changes induced by addition and removal of a phosphoryl group at a key aspartate site.
Multidrug-resistance protein
ATP-dependent pump that forces out small molecules from the cell, is a member of a family of transporters called ABC transporters
ABC transporters
Characterized by a common domain called the ATP-binding cassette (ABC). ABC transporters consist of two ABC domains and two membrane-spanning domains
Steps of the reaction cycle of the multidrug resistance pump (5)
- The channel is open to the cytoplasm.
- Substrates bind, causing conformational changes in the ABC domain.
- ATP binds to the ABC domains, causing more structural changes that orient the substrate so that it is facing the outside of the cell.
- The outward facing conformation of the transporter has reduced affinity for the substrate, allowing its release.
- ATP hydrolysis occurs, resetting the transporter to the initial state.
Secondary transporters/cotransporters
Use the energy of one gradient to power the formation of another
Symporters
Power the transport of a molecule against its concentration gradient by coupling the movement of that of another molecule down its concentration gradient, with both molecules moving in the same direction
Antiporters
Also use one concentration gradient to power the formation of another, but the molecules move in opposite directions
Uniporters
Transport a molecule in either direction, depending on the concentration difference across the membrane
Lactose permease
From E. coli- it is a symporter that uses an H+ gradient to power the entry of lactose into the cell
Transport cycle of lactose permease (6 steps)
- The cycle begins with the lactose-binding pocket facing the outside of the cell.
- A proton binds, followed by lactose binding.
- The permease everts.
- Lactose leaves the permease and enters the cell.
- A proton leaves the permease, entering the cell.
- The permease everts to complete the cycle