Ch12 2018
Ch12 2018
Ch12 2018
Essential
Cell Biology
FOURTH EDITION
Chapter 12
Transport Across Cell Membranes
Electrical imbalances generate a voltage difference across the membrane, called the
membrane potential!
*Resting membrane potential: -20 mV ~ -200 mV
Cells contain two classes of membrane transport
proteins: transporters and channels
Small molecules and ions can enter the cell through a “transporter” or a “channel”
• Each step in the cycle depends on the one before, so that if any of
individual steps is prevented from occurring, all the functions of the pump
are halted!
• A toxin called Ouabain (plant glycoside) prevents K+ binding
The Na+-K+ Pump helps maintain the osmotic balance of animal
cells
Ca2+ pumps keep the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration low
Ca2+ pumps keep the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration low
• Ca2+ can bind tightly to a variety of proteins in the cell, altering their activities
(Cal------, calmodulin, calcineurin, protein kinase c (PKC))
• An influx of Ca2+ into the cytosol through Ca2+ channels is often used as a signal to
trigger other cellular events, such as the secretion of signal molecules (nerve cells),
fertilization, and the contraction of muscle cells
• 0.1 M in the cytosol vs. 1~2 mM in the extracellular space : ATP-driven Ca 2+ pumps
in both the PM and the ER
Ca2+ pumps keep the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration low
Ca2+ pumps keep the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration low
Coupled pumps exploit solute gradients to mediate active transport
The electrochemical Na+ gradient drives coupled pumps in the
plasma membrane of animal cells
• Glucose-Na+ symport
Two types of glucose transporters enable gut epithelial cells to transfer
glucose across the epithelial lining of the gut
• Glucose-Na+ symport
• Gated: ion channels open briefly and then close again upon a specific
stimulus
A typical ion channel fluctuates between closed and open
conformations
A K+ channel possesses a selectivity filter that controls which ion it
will transport across the membrane
A typical ion channel transfers ions 1000 times faster than the
fastest transporter !
Membrane potential is governed by the permeability of a
membrane to specific ions
The distribution of ions on either side of a cell membrane gives
rise to its membrane potential
(electrical charge difference across the membrane)
(2) K+ is actively imported into the cell by the Na+ pump, which generates a K +
gradient across the plasma membrane (PM).
(3) The PM contains a set of K+ channels known as K+ leak channels. These
channels randomly flicker between open and closed states no matter what the
conditions are inside or outside the cell
(4) When they are open, they allow K+ to move freely.
(5) In a resting cell, these are the main ion channels open in the PM, rending the
PM much more permeable to K+ than to other ions.
The distribution of ions on either side of a cell membrane
gives rise to its membrane potential
The K+ concentration gradient and K+ leak channels play major
parts in generating the resting membrane potential across the PM
in animal cells
Resting Membrane Potential
-In animal cells, the resting membrane potential varies between -20
and -200 millivolts (mV), depending on the organism and cell type.
100 m/s
Action potentials are usually mediated by voltage-gated Na+
channels
Around +40mV, the electrochemical driving force for Na+ movement is zero: the
effects of the membrane potential and the concentration gradient for Na + are equal
and opposite!
A voltage-gated Na+ channel can flip from one conformation to
another, depending on the membrane potential
Voltage-gated Na+ channels change their
conformation during an action potential
During an action potential, voltage-gated Na+ channels
do not act alone!
Opto-genetics!