Molecules Flashcards
1
Q
How does the transport of large molecules across membranes differ from smaller molecules?
A
- Diffusion rates are faster for small molecules because they tend to travel further before colliding with other molecules
- Small, moderately polar molecules are able to passively diffuse across the cell membrane. To transport larger, more polar compounds such as most sugars, amino acids, peptides, and nucleosides, membrane transporters are utilized.
- It is possible for large molecules to enter a cell by a process called endocytosis, where a small piece of the cell membrane wraps around the particle and is brought into the cell.
