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Cell Transport
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Printed: January 15, 2013
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C ONCEPT
Concept 1. Cell Transport
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Cell Transport
• Describe the properties of a phospholipid and of the cell membrane.
How is a cell membrane like a castle wall?
The walls of a castle, like the cell membrane, are designed to keep out dangerous things. Whether you’re concerned
about an enemy army or a disease-causing bacteria, you don’t want to allow everything to enter! However, in order
to survive, there are some things that the cell (or the castle) does need to let in.
Introduction to Cell Transport
Cells are found in all different types of environments, and these environments are constantly changing. For example,
one-celled organisms, like bacteria, can be found on your skin, in the ground, or in all different types of water.
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Therefore, cells need a way to protect themselves. This job is done by the cell membrane, which is also known as
the plasma membrane.
Controlling the Cell Contents
The cell membrane is semipermeable, or selectively permeable, which means that only some molecules can pass
through the membrane. If the cell membrane were completely permeable, the inside of the cell would be the same as
the outside of the cell. It would be impossible for the cell to maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis means maintaining
a stable internal environment. For example, if your body cells have a temperature of 98.6°F, and it is freezing outside,
your cells will maintain homeostasis if the temperature of the cells stays the same and does not drop with the outside
temperature.
How does the cell ensure it is semipermeable? How does the cell control what molecules enter and leave the cell?
The composition of the cell membrane helps to control what can pass through it.
Composition of the Cell Membrane
Molecules in the cell membrane allow it to be semipermeable. The membrane is made of a double layer of
phospholipids (a "bilayer") and proteins (Figure 1.1). Recall that phospholipids, being lipids, do not mix with
water. It is this quality that allows them to form the outside barrier of the cell.
A single phospholipid molecule has two parts:
1. A head that is hydrophilic, or water-loving.
2. A tail that is hydrophobic, or water-fearing.
FIGURE 1.1
The cell membrane is made up of a phospholipid bilayer, two layers of phospholipid
molecules.
There is water found on both the inside and the outside of cells. Since hydrophilic means water-loving, and they
want to be near water, the heads face the inside and outside of the cell where water is found. The water-fearing,
hydrophobic tails face each other in the middle of the cell membrane, because water is not found in this space. The
phospholipid bilayer allows the cell to stay intact in a water-based environment.
An interesting quality of the plasma membrane is that it is very "fluid" and constantly moving, like a soap bubble.
Due to the composition of the cell membrane, small molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can pass freely
through the membrane, but other molecules cannot easily pass through the plasma membrane. These molecules need
assistance to get across the membrane. That assistance will come in the form of transport proteins.
Vocabulary
• cell membrane: Lipid barrier that surrounds the cell; also known as the plasma membrane.
• homeostasis: Ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions, such body temperature, regardless
of outside conditions.
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Concept 1. Cell Transport
• hydrophilic: Can combine with water (water-loving).
• hydrophobic: Does not combine with water (water-fearing).
• phospholipid: Lipid molecule with a hydrophilic ("water-loving") head and two hydrophobic ("water-hating")
tails; makes up the cell membrane.
• semipermeable: Allowing only certain materials to pass through; characteristic of the cell membrane.
• transport protein: Protein that assists molecules entering or leaving the cell.
Summary
• The cell membrane is selectively permeable, meaning only some molecules can get through.
• The cell membrane is made of a double layer of phospholipids, each with a hydrophilic (water-loving) head
and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail.
Practice
Use the resources below to answer the following questions.
• Active and Passive Transport at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfy92hdaAH0 (6:13)
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.
1. How is passive transport different from active transport?
2. What are three types of passive transport? What do these all have in common? Be as specific and thorough as
you can.
3. What does the body use iodine for? What kind of transport is necessary to transport this molecule into a cell?
4. What happens to the receptor complex in "receptor mediated endocytosis"?
Read through the tutorial below and answer the questions that follow.
• Membrane tutorial at http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/macampbell/111/memb-swf/membranes.swf
1. Can proteins in the plasma membrane move around the membrane? Why is this characteristic beneficial to the
cell? Think carefully and be as thorough in your answer as possible.
2. What are five functions of the membrane in cells?
3. What types of lipids are found in plasma membranes? What characteristics do these types of lipids share?
Review
1. Why is the plasma membrane considered selectively permeable?
2. Explain the composition of the cell membrane.
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