Factors affecting cell transport

Question 1

What are the factors affecting cell transport

Answer 1

• molecule size
• molecule shape
• temperature
• availability of carrier proteins
• charge of the particle
• concentration
• lipid solubility
• available energy

Question 2

Molecule size

Answer 2

• small molecules can slip by the phosphoipids into the other side
• if there’s a steep concentration gradient they move quickly
• large molecules can’t diffuse across the membrane

Question 3

Molecule shape

Answer 3

• if a particle is the right shape to fit through carrier proteins they move faster
• glucose can get into cells faster than sugar because they are the right shape to fit through carrier proteins
• still reliant of availability of carriers

Question 4

Concentration

Answer 4

higher concentration difference = greater concentration gradient = greater rate of diffusion

Question 5

Lipid solubility

Answer 5

• lipid soluble molecules pass easily through the lipid bilayer
• this means they move easily across the membrane down the concentration gradient

Question 6

Temperature

Answer 6

• increased temperature = faster molecule movement
• quicker molecule movement = faster rate of diffusion
• if temps are too high, proteins candenature and the cell will die

Question 7

Charge

Answer 7

• ions and molecules with a charge can’t pass by diffusion
• they need a channel/carrier protein

Question 8

Available protein carriers

Answer 8

• once a carrier is filled, no more can pass
• low number of available carriers = low rate of transport

Question 9

Available energy

Answer 9

• for active methods of transport, the rate of transport is affected by the amount of ATP
• lots of ATP = faster rate of transport
• also applies to vesicular transport (making vesicles requires energy)