Passive Transport

-energy independent process in which a

solute moves down an electrochemical
gradient, dissipating the free energy
stored in the gradient

Mechanisms of passive transport

1. Simple Diffusion
2. Facilitated Diffusion
3. Osmosis
DIFFUSION
-spontaneous process in which a
substance moves from a region
of high concentration to a
region of low concentration
OSMOSIS

-movement of water through a

semipermeable membrane from
a region of lower solute
concentration to a region of
higher solute concentration
Osmotic concentration is determined by
the concentration of all solutes in
solution
Relative Osmotic Concentrations
• Hypertonic solutions: have a higher
relative solute concentration
• Hypotonic solutions: have a lower
relative solute concentration
• Isotonic Solutions: have equal
relative solute concentrations

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FACILITATED DIFFUSION
• diffusion across a membrane
from a region of higher
concentration on one side to a
region of lower concentration on
the other side
• Passive: not coupled to energy-
releasing systems
Facilitative transporter
• the diffusing substance binds selectively
to this membrane-spanning protein and
facilitates diffusion process
• Binding of solute on one side trigger
conformational change in protein,
exposing solute to other surface of the
membrane
• Specific for molecules they transport
• Activity can be regulated
Glucose Transporter (GLUT1)
 2 distinct types of
transport proteins
1.Channel proteins
have a polar interior allowing polar
molecules to pass through.

2. Carrier Proteins
bind to a specific molecule to
facilitate its passage
Channel Proteins
• Channel proteins include:
- ion channels allow the passage
of ions (charged atoms or
molecules) which are associated
with water
- gated channels are opened or
closed in response to a stimulus
–the stimulus may be chemical
or electrical
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Channel Proteins
Carrier Proteins
 3 Types of Carrier Proteins

(a) Uniport (b) Co-transport

Uniport – one solute transported

[Antiport – two solutes in opposite directions

Symport – two solutes in the same direction