CHAPTER 3 :

MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS
THE PLASMA
MEMBRANE

PREPARED BY :
EN. MUHD FAZLI DOLLAH
 SUBSTOPICS
3.1 - Movement of Substances Across the
Plasma Membrane
3.2 – Understanding the Movement of
Substances Across the Plasma
Membrane in Everyday Life
3.3 – Appreciating the Movement of
Substances Across the Plasma
Membrane
 LEARNING
 To
OUTCOMES
state the substances required by living
cells
 To state the substances that have to be
eliminated from cells
 To explain the necessity for movement of
substances across the plasma membrane
 To describe the structure of the plasma
membrane
 To describe the permeability of the plasma
membrane
 NECESSITY FOR MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE PLASMA
MEMBRANE
 To provide nutrients for metabolism
& growth;
 To supply oxygen for respiration;
 To regulate solute concentration &
suitable pH for maintaining a stable
internal environment for optimal
enzymatic activities
 To maintain an ion concentration
gradient required for nerve & muscle
cell activities;
 To secrete useful substances, for
example, digestive enzymes &
hormones;
 To eliminate toxic waste
products such as urea & carbon
dioxide
 Substances can move into or
out of a cell by :
Passive transport
Simple diffusion
Osmosis

Facilitated diffusion

Active transport
Movement of substances across the plasma
membrane would depend on :

Selectivityof the partially

permeable membrane;
The difference in concentration
between the cell & extracellular
fluid
Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 All
cells are covered by a thin plasma
membrane.

 Itseparates the cell contents from

the surrounding

 1972, S.J. Singer & G.L. Nicolson

proposed the fluid-mosaic model of
plasma membrane.
 The plasma membrane is dynamic &
fluid. The phospholipid molecules can
move thus giving the membrane its
fluidity & flexibility

 The
proteins are scattered in the
membrane giving it a mosaic
appearance

 Thickness : 7.0 – 8.0 nm.

 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 The membrane consists of
a phospholipid bilayer (2
molecules thick)

 The polar hydrophilic heads

– outer layer face
outwards, chemically
attracted to the watery
surrounding

 The non-polar hydrophobic

hydrocarbon fatty acid tails
– face inwards, away from
water.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Thereare proteins on the outer & inner
surfaces of the plasma membrane.

 Some proteins penetrate partially

through the membrane, others
penetrate completely.

 The phospholipid bilayer is permeable

to diffusion of small uncharged
molecules such as O2 & CO2.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Two types of transport protein :
 Channel / pore proteins – have pore to facilitate
diffusion of particular ions / molecules across the PM.

 Some carrier proteins – have binding sites that bind to

specific molecules such as glucose @ amino acids 
alter their shape to facilitate the diffusion of solutes.

 Other carrier proteins – function in active transport 

an energized carrier protein actively pumps the solute
across the cell membrane against the concentration
gradient.
 Structure of the Plasma
Membrane
 Cholesterol molecules stabilise the
structure of PM.
 MECHANISM OF MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE
PERMEABILITY
 A semipermeable @ partially permeable
membrane = selectively permeable to small
molecules such as water & glucose.

 Does not permit large molecule to move through

it.

 Examples : egg membrane, plasma membrane

of living cells & cellaphone membrane of the
Visking tubing.
 MECHANISM OF MOVEMENT OF
SUBSTANCES ACROSS THE
PLASMA MEMBRANE
A permeable membrane – permeable to the
many solvent (water) & solute molecules 
diffusion can occur.

 Example : cellulose cell wall of plant cell

 Animpermeable membrane – not allow

substances to diffuse through it.

 Example
: the impermeable polythene
membrane.
 LEARNING
 OUTCOMES
To explain the movement of substances across
the plasma membrane through the process of
passive transport
 To explain the movement of water molecules
across the plasma membrane by osmosis,
 To explain the movement of substances across
the plasma membrane through the process of
active transport,
 To explain the process of passive transport in
living organisms using examples
 PASSIVE TRANSPORT
 The movement of particles
(molecules/ions) within a gas or liquid
across the plasma membrane from a
region of higher concentration to a region
of lower concentration & does not require
expenditure of energy from ATP.

 Thesubstances move down their

concentration gradient through different
ways :
 Phospholipid bilayer
 Pore protein/ channel protein

 Carrier protein
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
SIMPLE
DIFFUSION

OSMOSIS

FACILITATED
DIFFUSION
 SIMPLE DIFFUSION

 The net movement of molecules /

ions from a region of higher
concentration to a region of
lower concentration until an
equilibrium is reached.
 Substances :
 Small non-polar molecules – O2 & CO2
 Lipid-soluble substances – vitamins ADEK,
steroids & alcohols
 Water molecules
 SIMPLE DIFFUSION

 The bigger the concentration

gradient the faster the rate of
diffusion.
 These substances will diffuse down
the concentration gradient if there is
a concentration gradient. (until an
equilibrium is reached).
 Examples : gaseous exchange
between the alveolus & the blood
capillaries, blood capillaries & body
 osmosis
 The diffusion of water molecules (solvent) from
a region of higher water concentration (diluted
solution) to a region of lower water
concentration (concentrated solution) through a
semi-permeable membrane until an equilibrium
is reached.
A special type of diffusion.
 Examples :
 Absorption of water from soil solution by plant root
hairs
 Reabsorption of water by kidney tubules
 FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 Themovement of molecules / ions
down their concentration gradient
assisted by transport proteins
(channel protein / pore protein)
across the plasma membrane without
using energy.

 The transport proteins facilitate & increase

the rate of diffusion across the plasma
membrane.

 Not require energy

 FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 The rate of facilitated diffusion depends on
the number of transport protein molecules
in the membrane & how fast they can
move their specific solute.

 Onlyallows small charged molecules such

as mineral ions to pass through the pore
protein.

 Carrierprotein : allows larger uncharged

polar molecules – glucose & amino acids to
cross the membrane.
 THE MECHANISM
 The solute moves to the binding
site of the specific carrier protein.
 The solute binds to the carrier
protein at the binding site &
triggers the carrier protein to
change its shape.
 The carrier protein changes its
shape & moves the solute across
the membrane.
 The carrier protein returns back to
its original shape.
 FACILITATED DIFFUSION
 The solutes can be transported by
carrier proteins in either direction but
the net movement is always down
the concentration gradient.

 Examples : the transportation of

glucose, amino acids & mineral
ions across the membrane of the
vilus at the ileum & body cells.
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT
 The movement of substances across
the plasma membrane from a region
of low concentration to a region of
high concentration (against the
concentration gradient) by using
metabolic energy.

 Thesubstances move across a membrane

against the concentration gradient, using
metabolic energy

 Performby a specific protein embedded in

the plasma membrane.
 ACTIVE TRANSPORT
 Require energy to change the shape of the
protein such that the substance can be
pumped across the membrane.

 Example : absorption of potassium ions

from pond water by algae Nitella sp.
against a concentration gradient, the
intake of mineral ions by the plant root
hairs, Na+/ K+ protein pumps in the
plasma membrane of neurones transport
Na+ & K+ against their concentration
gradients.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
 LEARNING
OUTCOMES
 To explain the process of active transport
in living organisms using examples,
 To compare and contrast passive
transport & active transport.
COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE & ACTIVE TRANSPORT

PASSIVE SIMILARITIES ACTIVE

TRANSPORT TRANSPORT

DIFFERENCES
Concentration gradient
Cellular energy
Outcome of the
process
Occurs in
Name of process
Examples
 COMPARISON BETWEEN PASSIVE & ACTIVE TRANSPORT

PASSIVE SIMILARITIES ACTIVE

TRANSPORT TRANSPORT
Transportof substances across the plasma membrane
Need a difference of concentration gradient between extracellular
environment & the cell
DIFFERENCES
Follow Concentration gradient Against

Does not expend energy Cellular energy Need to expend energy

Until an equilibrium is Outcome of the process Depends on the cells
reached requirement (no need to
reach an equilibrium)
Non-living & living Occurs in Living organisms only
organisms
Simple diffusion, osmosis, Name of process Active transport
facilitated diffusion
Examples