Transport mechanisms II Flashcards
What are the main types of mediated transport systems?
Facilitated diffusion, primary active transport, secondary active transport
What is mediated transport?
It is the movement of ions and other molecules by integral membrane proteins called transporters or carriers.
Name the 3 major characteristics of mediated transport systems.
Specificity, saturation, competition
Explain how mediated transport systems are specific.
Usually a carrier only transport one particular type of molecule.
Explain saturation in mediated transport systems.
The rate of transport reaches a maximum as solute concentration increases when all transporters’ binding sites are occupied (e.g. all the seats on the bus are full). This is unlike diffusion, which doesn’t have a maximum flux into the cell.
Explain competition in mediated transport systems.
Structurally similar substances can compete for the same binding site on a membrane carrier.
What 4 factors affect the flux magnitude of mediated transport system?
- Solute concentration
- Affinity of transporter for the solute
- Numbers of transporters
- Rate of transporter conformational change
What is facilitated diffusion?
It involves the presence of a carrier molecule that allows a solute to penetrate more readily than it would by simple diffusion (along its concentration gradient)
What are the 4 steps involved in facilitated diffusion?
- Solute binds to transporter
- Transporter changes configuration
- Solute is delivered to the other side of the membrane
- Transporter resumes original configuration.
How do hormones affect facilitated diffusion? Give an example.
They can increase the number and/or affinity of transporters in some membrane. For example, the hormone insulin increases Glut-4 in muscle, which is essential for transporting glucose in the cell. Without insulin, there would be a buildup of glucose in the body (diabetes).
What is active transport?
It requires a supply of chemical energy (usually ATP) and uses it to transport a solute against its concentration gradient. It also requires a transporter/carrier.
What is primary active transport?
It is active transport that involves the hydrolysis of ATP by a transporter. The phosphorylation of the transporter changes its conformation and solute binding affinity.
What is the most famous active transportation mechanism? Explain what would happen if it didn’t exist.
The Na+/K+-ATPase pump. Due to the membrane potential, the natural tendency is for Na+ to move into the cell and for K+ to move out of the cell. Without the pump, both ions would just accumulate in these respective places. This would also make secondary active transport impossible.
Describe the 5 steps in the Na+/K+-ATPase.
- Start with ATP binding to transporter. This makes it favourable for Na+ molecules to bind to the transporter’s 3 designated sites.
- When Na+ binds, ATP is hydrolyzed with the release of ADP and the bonding of a high-energy phosphate.
- This causes a conformational change in the protein, exposing the 3 Na+ to the extracellular solution.
- Once Na+ is released, K+ binds to high affinity sites that become exposed on the extracellular side.
- K+ is released and the molecule returns to the original conformation. ATP eventually binds again, restarting the cycle.
Aside from the Na+/K+-ATPase, name 3 other significant primary active transport mechanisms and their function.
Ca2+-ATPase: maintains low intracellular Ca2+
H+-ATPase: maintains low lysosomal pH
H+/K+-ATPase: acidification of the stomach
What is secondary active transport?
The transport of Na+ down its concentration gradient is coupled to the transport of another solute molecule uphill against its concentration gradient. It uses the energy stored in the electrochemical gradient generated by the Na+/K+-ATPase, so it is reliant on primary active transport.
Describe the 3 steps in secondary active transport.
- Na+ binds to a transporter outside the cell, allowing the solute to bind to the same carrier.
- Through a change in configuration, the transporter “delivers” both molecules into the cell. This is driven by the energy gained by transporting Na+ along its concentration gradient.
- The transporter then reverts to its original configuration and Na+ is extruded from the cell by Na+/K+-ATPase.
What are the two subtypes of secondary active transport? Explain the difference between them. What type of solute is typically transported by each means?
Cotransport (symport): solute X is transported in the same direction as Na+, into the cell. This is typically done for amino acids.
Countertransport (antiport): solute X is transported in the opposite direction to Na+, out of the cell. This is typically done for Ca2+.
Give 2 significant examples of antiports.
The Na+/H+ exchanger and the Na+/Ca2_ exchanger
- Review diagram showing all the transportation mechanisms we’ve learned so far
Name the typical ions that use:
a) Diffusion through the lipid bilayer
b) Diffusion through protein channel
c) Facilitated diffusion
d) Primary active transport
e) Secondary active transport
a) Nonpolar molecules (O2, CO2, fatty acids)
b) Ions: Na+, K+, Ca2+
c) Polar molecules (glucose)
d) Ions: Na+, K+, Ca2+, H+
e) Polar molecules: amino acids, glucose, some ions
What do endocytosis and exocytosis have in common?
They are both active transport mechanisms that involve the participation of the cell membrane itself.
What is endocytosis?
It is when the cell membrane invaginates and pinches off to bring the contents into the cell.
What is exocytosis?
It is when an intracellular vesicle fuses with the cell membrane and its contents are released into the ECF.
What are the 2 types of exocytosis? Explain the difference between them.
Constituitive exocytosis: the normal turnover of the plasma membrane to deliver proteins to the membrane and get rid of substances from the cell
Regulated exocytosis: triggered by extracellular signals and the increase of cytosolic Ca2+. Secretes hormones, digestive enzymes, and neutrotransmitters.
What are the 3 types of endocytosis?
Pinocytosis (cell drinking), phagocytosis (cell eating), and receptor-mediated endocytosis.