Transport Across Membranes Flashcards
What are lipids made up of?
C, H, O
What can lipids exist as?
Fats, waxes, oils
How are triglycerides formed?
By esterification three times
What is esterification?
A condensation reaction between 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol
Functions of lipids? (6)
- protection of vital organs
- to prevent evaporation in plants and animals
- insulation on the body
- as a water source
- they form the myelin sheath around some neurones
- as a component of cell membranes
What two chemicals combine to form a lipid?
A
What elements are found in lipids?
C, H, O
What is the chemical difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
A
What is the biological importance of unsaturated fats?
A
Name one unsaturated fat
A
Why could a fat free diet kill you?
A
What do omega 3 oils do for you?
A
Name a good source of omega 3 oils
Fish
Functions of a membrane? (6)
- selectively permeable barrier
- structural, keeping the cell contents together
- allows communication with other cells
- allows recognition of other external substances
- allows mobility of some substances (eg amoeba)
- the site of various chemical reactions
Are lipids soluble or insoluble in water?
Insoluble
How do substances cross the concentration gradient in diffusion?
Down the concentration gradient
Why do organisms need energy?
-
Define diffusion
The net movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration - down a concentration gradient.
Does diffusion require energy?
No
What is simple diffusion?
Where molecules move directly through a cell membrane
How would big molecules such as glucose, amino acid affect diffusion?
They would diffuse very slowly through the phospholipid belayer because they’re so big
Why would charged molecules (eg ions / polar molecules) diffuse slowly?
Because they’re water soluble and the centre of the bilayer is hydrophobic
Does facilitated diffusion require energy?
No, it’s a passive process.
What do carrier proteins do?
They move large molecules across the membrane, down their concentration gradient.
Why are there so many carrier proteins?
Because different carrier proteins facilitate the diffusion of different molecules
Explain how a carrier protein works. (3)
- A large molecule attaches to a carrier protein in the membrane.
- Then, the protein changes shape.
- This releases the molecule on the opposite side of the membrane.
What do channel proteins do?
They form pores in the membrane for charged molecules to diffuse (down the concentration gradient)
What 3 things affect simple diffusion?
- concentration gradient
- thickness of the exchange surface
- surface area
How does the concentration gradient affect simple diffusion?
The greater the convent ration gradient, the greater the rate of diffusion.
However, this slows over time when the difference in concentration between the two sides of the membrane reaches an equilibrium.
How does the thickness of the surface affect simple diffusion?
The thinner the exchange surface, the faster the rate of diffusion.
Thinner exchange surface = the shorter the distance the particles have to travel
Why would the surface area affect simple diffusion?
The larger the surface area, the faster the rate of diffusion
What does facilitated diffusion depend on?
- the concentration gradient
- the number of channel or carrier proteins
At what point might facilitated diffusion stop happening any faster?
When all of the carrier and channel proteins are in use
What does water potential mean?
The likelihood of water to diffuse into or out of a solution.
What has the highest water potential?
Pure water
If two solutions have the same waste potential, what is it called?
Isotonic
What are the two differences between active transport and facilitated diffusion?
- Active transport requires energy unlike facilitated diffusion
- Active transponer moves solutes from low to high, whereas facilitated diffusion is high to low concentration
Co-transporters are a type of…
Carrier protein
What factors affect the rate of active transport?
- the speed of individual carrier proteins
- the number of carrier proteins present
- rate of respiration in the cell (and the availability of ATP)
By which process do sodium ions move into the blood?
Active transport
Sodium ions are moved from the (where)? into the blood?
Ilium epithelial cells
If the concentration of some ions is measured inside cells, it is often found that they are 20-30 times more concentrated than outside the cell. What does this mean?
Cells cannot make ions, suggesting that they must be able to move against the concentration gradient.
This requires energy and therefore this process is active.
Why is energy required in active transport?
To allow the carrier proteins (in cell membrane) to act as molecular pumps to transport molecules into / out of cells
How is active transport inhibited?
Things that prevent respiration will therefore prevent active transport eg:
- lack of oxygen
- respiratory inhibitors
Why do organisms require energy?
- metabolism
- movement
- maintaining body temperature
- producing substances (eg enzymes / hormones)
- active transport
- maintenance, repair and division of cells
Diffusion is ______ the concentration gradient
Down
Define osmosis
The net movement of water molecules from a solution with a higher to lower water potential, through a selectively permeable membrane.
Active transport is a provees by which a cell takes up a substance ______ a concentration gradient
Against