Transport Across Cell Membranes Flashcards
What is a brush border?
A collection of microvilli on the surface of epithelial cells
How are the epithelial cells of the small intestine adapted for absorption of digested food?
Many microvilli
Increase SA= more carrier + channel proteins = more facilitated diffusion at once.
Many protein channels and carrier proteins = more facilitated diffusion at once.
Define diffusion
Net movement of molecules or ions from an area of high to an area of low concentration
What is the ileum and lumen?
The space inside the small intestine = lumen
Ileum = small intestine
How is the glucose concentration gradient maintained between the epithelial cells and the blood?
The blood is constantly circulated to remove glucose next to cells
Maintain conc. gradient
What role do K+/Na+ pumps play in glucose absorption?
Pumps remove Na+ from cell into blood.
Maintains low conc. of Na+ in cell so Na+ move into cell via facilitated diffusion (carrier proteins)
Glucose moves along with Na+
By what processes does glucose move from the ileum to the blood?
Co-transport with Na+
Facilitated diffusion
What would occur if active transport didn’t happen in the small intestine?
Glucose and amino acids would pass out unabsorbed
Only absorb 50% of digestive products (equilibrium reached with diffusion)
What two main substances are absorbed into the blood that require active transport?
Glucose and amino acids
What is co-transported with sodium ions into the epithelial cells from the ileum?
Glucose or amino acids
Describe how starch is digested and absorbed
Starch broken down by amylase and then Maltase into glucose
Sodium ions are actively transported out of epithelial cell via K+/Na+ pump to set up conc. gradient of Na+
Na+ enter epithelial cells with glucose via co-transport proteins.
High glucose concentration in cell, low in blood. Move via facilitated diffusion (carrier protein)
What is the function of the cell surface membrane?
separate cytoplasm from environment
Allow and control transport of molecules and ions
Allow small, lipid soluble, non-polar molecules to diffuse across
Cell recognition and signalling
What is the function of the phospholipids in the cell surface membrane ?
Allow membrane to be flexible and self sealing
Allow lipid soluble substance across
Form phospholipid bilayer
What is the function of extrinsic proteins in the cell surface membrane ?
Structural support
Help cells stick together
Bind with carbohydrates to form glycoproteins for cell recognition
Act as hormone receptors
Enzymes
What is the function of cholesterol in the cell surface membrane ?
Make membrane less flexible (stronger)
Prevent leakage of water and dissolved ions
Prevent membrane becoming too fluid at high temps
Prevent lateral movement
What are the function of intrinsic proteins in the cell surface membrane ?
Transport water soluble molecules and ions
Allow active transport
What is the function of the glycoproteins in the cell surface membrane ?
Allow cells to adhere
Recognition site (hormone and neurotransmitters)
What is the function of the glycolipids in the cell surface membrane ?
Maintain stability of cell membrane
Recognition site (cholera toxins)
Allow cells to adhere
What is the function of a membrane within a cell?
Seperate organelles (seperate conditions and metabolic reactions)
Allow transport of substances (ER
Separate harmful enzymes (hydrolytic) in lysosomes
Why might a substance be unable to enter a cell?
Too large to fit through channels or bilayer
Same charge as channels (repelled)
Water not lipid soluble
How is the cell membrane described and why?
Fluid mosaic
Fluid = able to move
Mosaic = proteins of different sizes and shapes like mosaic
Why are the phospholipids able to move?
Weak forces of attraction between them
What are channel proteins also called?
Why
Aquaporins
Filled with water and lined with hydrophillic amino acids
Define simple diffusion
Net movement of molecules or ions from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration untill an equilibrium is reached
Why and how is simple diffusion passive?
No ATP required
Powered by kinetic energy of particles
Give an example of simple diffusion within cells
CO2 O2 urea enzymes hormones