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    Cell membrane and tranport of substances

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    Cell membrane and tranport of substances

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    Cell membrane and tranport of substances

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    of 4

    6.

    1 The Structure and Function of the Cell Membrane


    The cell membrane is kind of like a soap bubble (Figure 6.1). A soap bubble consists
    of a thin, flexible membrane. The soapy membrane seals the inside air from the
    outside. Likewise the cell membrane is a thin, flexible layer that seals the inside of
    the cell from its outside environment. In this section, you’ll learn about the structure
    and function of the cell membrane.

    A closer look at the cell membrane


    The functions of The cell membrane has many functions. It protects the cell from
    the cell its environment and takes in food and other compounds that the
    membrane cell needs. It also gets rid of waste from inside of the cell. The cell
    membrane even allows cells to communicate and interact.
    The structure of The cell membrane is made of several types of molecules. Lipid Figure 6.1: Soap bubbles are similar
    the cell molecules form a double layer. This creates a thin, fluid layer like to cell membranes.
    membrane a soap bubble. Embedded protein molecules can move around
    within this layer. Carbohydrates attached to some proteins face
    outward. Some of these serve as “identification cards” so cells can
    recognize each other.

    112 UNIT 2 CELL BIOLOGY


    CHAPTER 6: CELL PROCESSES

    Diffusion
    What is Cells live in a watery environment. The cytoplasm is 80% water.
    diffusion? Every cell in your body is also surrounded by a watery solution. diffusion - the movement of
    Solutions make it easier for molecules to move into or out of the molecules from areas of greater
    concentration to areas of lesser
    cell. Molecules move across the cell membrane by a process called concentration.
    diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from areas of
    greater concentration to areas of lesser concentration.
    How diffusion In order for diffusion to occur, there must be an unequal number
    works in a cell of molecules on each side of the cell membrane. If there are more Observing diffusion
    molecules on the outside of the membrane compared to the inside,
    1. Fill a clear glass with water.
    the molecules will move to the inside of the cell until there is an
    2. Carefully add a drop of food
    equal number of molecules on both sides. Can you predict what will coloring to the water.
    happen if there are more molecules on the inside of the cell? 3. Observe the glass every
    2 minutes and record your
    observations in your journal.

    Molecules move into or out of the cell until


    there is an equal number on both sides of the 4. What happens to the food
    cell membrane. coloring? Explain what is
    happening at the molecular
    Not all molecules Not all molecules can move across the cell membrane by diffusion. level.
    can pass through You can compare the cell membrane to a tea bag. Only smaller 5. You observed a process called
    by diffusion particles can pass through the tea bag. Larger particles are left diffusion. How might the cell
    inside of the bag. The same is true of the cell membrane. Small membrane use diffusion to
    molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass through. You’ll move molecules in or out?
    learn how larger molecules diffuse later in this chapter.

    6.1 THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE CELL MEMBRANE


    113
    Osmosis
    What is osmosis? Water molecules are small enough to pass through the cell
    membrane by diffusion. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across osmosis - the diffusion of water
    the cell membrane. Like other molecules, water moves from areas across the cell membrane.
    of greater concentration of water molecules to areas of lesser
    concentration.
    Cells take in When you put a cell into a solution, it will either take in water,
    water by osmosis stay the same, or lose water. What happens depends on the
    amount of water in the solution. For example, a sugar solution
    (sugar dissolved in water) contains fewer water molecules than the
    same amount of pure water.
    More water If the solution outside the cell has more water molecules than
    molecules inside the cell, the cell gains water. Water molecules are free to
    outside pass across the cell membrane in both directions, but more water
    comes into the cell than leaves. The cell swells up (Figure 6.2, top).
    Water molecules If the solution outside the cell has the same amount of water
    equal on molecules as inside the cell, the amount of water inside the cell
    both sides stays the same. Water crosses the membrane in both directions,
    but the amount going in is the same as the amount going out.
    Thus, the cell stays the same size (Figure 6.2, middle).
    Fewer water If the solution outside the cell has fewer water molecules than
    molecules inside the cell, the cell loses water. Again, water crosses the cell
    outside membrane in both directions, but this time more water leaves the
    cell than enters it. The cell shrinks (Figure 6.2, bottom).
    Animal and If animal cells take in too much water they can burst. That’s why
    Figure 6.2: When you put a cell into
    plant cells your cells are surrounded by a solution that has the same amount a solution, one of three things can
    of water as inside the cell membrane. Plant cells can take in more happen.
    water than animal cells because of their strong cell walls.

    114 UNIT 2 CELL BIOLOGY


    CHAPTER 6: CELL PROCESSES

    Other types of transport


    Protein channels Diffusion and osmosis do not require energy from the cell. This is
    because the molecules move with a concentration difference (from
    higher to lower). Larger molecules like sugars, starches, and
    proteins sometimes diffuse through protein channels (Figure 6.3).
    Because the molecules move from greater to lesser concentration
    through the channels, this process also does not require energy.
    Active transport Sometimes a cell needs to move molecules against a concentration
    difference (from lower to higher concentration). Active transport is
    a process that allows molecules to move across the cell membrane
    from lower to higher concentrations. Active transport requires
    energy. Protein molecules act as “pumps” to move the molecules
    across the cell membrane as shown below. Your nerve cells have Figure 6.3: Larger molecules can
    lots of protein pumps to move ions across the cell membrane. This diffuse through protein channels.
    is how signals travel through your nervous system.

    Other types of A cell can take in larger particles of food by “engulfing” them. The
    active transport cell membrane forms a pocket around the particle. Once inside the
    cell, the pocket breaks loose from the cell membrane. It forms a
    vacuole within the cytoplasm (Figure 6.4). Cells also send material
    out of the cell in the same way. When this happens, a vacuole fuses
    with the cell membrane and the contents are forced outside of the
    cell. Both of these processes are types of active transport because Figure 6.4: A cell can also take in
    they require energy. larger amounts of material by engulfing
    them.

    6.1 THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE CELL MEMBRANE


    115

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