Transport mechanisms Flashcards
How do we ensure to preserve the constancy of the Milieu Intérieur and the homeostasis?
by exchanging nutrients, salts, gases, and waste in and out of the body
What is the plasma membrane/ cell membrane?
What are its characteristics?
It is the membrane that covers every cell (membrane between ICF and ISF)
Varies depending on the cell
Bimolecular Phospholipid Layer (phospholipid bilayer)
polar/hydrophilic head and non-polar/hydrophobic tail
Phospholipids = 40-50% of plasma membrane by weight
What organs make the link between the plasma and the interstitial fluid?
Lungs and the kidneys
What is the cell membrane permeable/ less permeable and impermeable to?
Highly permeable to :
H2O
Lipid-soluble substances
Dissolved gases(CO2, O2)
Small uncharged molecules
Less permeable to:
Larger molecules
Charged particules
Impermeable to:
Very large molecules (macro-molecules)
What role does cholesterol play in the plasma membrane?
inserted into phospholipid bilayer to reduce packing of fatty acid tails –> increase fluidity of membrane and avoid aggregation
In high temperature, role changes: adds firmness, stabilize cell membrane
What are the different types of protein we can find in the cell membrane and their importance?
25-75% of membrane by weight
Integral proteins:
closely associated with phospholipids, cross membrane (Trans-membrane, amphipathic –> both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts)
Peripheral proteins:
more loosely associated, mostly on the cytoplasmic side
What is Glycocalyx?
layer of carbohydrates formed by a chain of monosaccharides that extend extracellular surface on cell membrane bound ot proteins
Provides protection from infections
Enable cells to indentify each other and interact
What are the different functions of plasma membrane proteins?
Selective transport channel
Enzyme that catalyse membrane associated ractions (amino acid transport/Na-K pump)
Cell surface receptors for chemical signal of cell environment
Cell surface identity marker
Cell adhesion
Attachement to cytoskeleton
Which are the 2 possibilities for transmembrane transport pathways?
- via phosphilpid bilayer
- via interaction with protein cluster (channel or carrier/trnasporter)
What are the 3 passive transport mechanisms across the cell membrane ?
Energy independent
1. Diffusion (most important)
- Carrier-mediated Facilitated Diffusion (form of diffusion)
3.Osmosis (mvt of water across semi-permeable membrane)
What are the 3 active transport mechanisms across the cell membrane ?
Energy dependent
1.Carrier-mediated Active Transport:
- primary
-secondary
- Pino/phagocytosis
What is simple diffusion
mvt of molecules from on location to another as result of RANDOM THERMAL MOTION
Flux = amount particules crossing surface/ unit of time
Net Flux = high concentration to lower concentration
Equilibrium = when diffusion fluxes are equal and net flux = 0
*Membrane has to be permeable to particles
What happens with diffusion and concentrations when cell is exposed to solute in large extracellular solution?
extracellulare cellular concentration = constante C0
intracellular concentration = Ci
Ci will eventually = C0
because when Ci diffuses, doesn’t change C0 concentration but when C0 diffuses, changes Ci concentration
What is Fick’s Law of Diffusion?
J = PA(C0 - Ci)
J = Net flux: rate of diffusion
P = Permeability/diffusion coefficient
A = surface area of membrane
C0 - Ci = concentration gradient
*Diffusion time increases proportionnally to the square of distance travelled by solute molecule –> effective over short distances –> why many tiny capillaries close to cells
What factors affect diffusion across the cell membrane?
- Mass of the molecule
- Concentration gradient across cell membrane
- Lipid Solubility (if diffusion trough bilayer)
- Electrical charge
- Availability of selective ion channel or membrane carriers (to move olecules through celle membrane)
Which are the 2 ways DIFFUSION particules may penetrate into cell?
- Dissolving in the lipid component (for non-polar molecules) ex: O2, CO2, fatty acids, etc.
- Diffusing through channels (for ions –> polar) (mediated transport?)
Both case, mvt depends on existence on concentration gradient