Facilitated diffusion (also known as facilitated transport or passive-

mediated transport) is a process of passive transport, facilitated by integral

proteins. Facilitated diffusion is the spontaneous passage of molecules or
ions across a biological membrane passing through specific Tran membrane
integral proteins. The facilitated diffusion may occur either across
biological or through aqueous compartments of an organism.
Polar molecules and charged ions are dissolved in water but they can not
diffuse freely across the plasma membrane due to the hydrophobic nature of
the fatty acid tails of phospholipids that make up the lipid bilayers. Only
small nonpolar molecules, such as oxygen can diffuse easily across the
membrane. All polar molecules are transported across membranes by
proteins that form Tran membrane channels. These channels are gated so
they can open and close, thus regulating the flow of ions or small polar
molecules. Larger molecules are transported by Tran membrane carrier
proteins, such as permeases that change their conformation as
the molecules are carried through, for example glucose or amino acids.
Non-polar molecules, such as retinol or fatty acids are poorly soluble in
water. They are transported through aqueous compartments of cells or
through extracellular space by water-soluble carriers as retinol binding
protein. The metabolites are not changed because no energy is required for
facilitated diffusion. Only permease changes its shape in order to transport
the metabolites. The form of transport through cell membrane which
modifies its metabolites is the translocation Transportation.

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that allows substances to

cross membranes with the assistance of special transport proteins. Some
molecules and ions such as glucose, sodium ions and chloride ions are
unable to pass through the lipid bilayer of cell membranes.

Through the use of ion channel proteins and carrier proteins that are
embedded in the cell membrane these substance can be transported into the
cell. Ion channel proteins allow specific ions to pass through the protein
channel. The ion channels are regulated by the cell and are either open or
closed to control the passage of substances into the cell. Carrier proteins
bind to specific molecules, change shape and then deposit the molecules
across the membrane. Once the transaction is complete the proteins return to
their original position.

There are two ways in which

substances can enter or leave a
cell:
1) Passive
a) Simple Diffusion
b) Facilitated Diffusion
c) Osmosis (water only)
2) Active
a) Molecules
b) Particles
Diffusion
Diffusion is the net passive movement of particles (atoms, ions or
molecules) from a region in which they are in higher concentration to
regions of lower concentration. It continues until the concentration of
substances is uniform throughout.
Some major examples of diffusion in biology:
• Gas exchange at the alveoli — oxygen from air to blood, carbon
dioxide from blood to air.
• Gas exchange for photosynthesis — carbon dioxide from air to
leaf, oxygen from leaf to air.
• Gas exchange for respiration — oxygen from blood to tissue cells, carbon
dioxide in
opposite direction.
• Transfer of transmitter substance — acetylcholine from presynaptic to
postsynaptic
membrane at a synapse.
• Osmosis — diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane.
High Diffusion Rate: short distance, large surface area, big concentration
difference (Fick’s Law).
High temperatures increase diffusion; large molecules slow diffusion.
Facilitated Diffusion
This is the movement of specific molecules down a concentration gradient,
passing through the
membrane via a specific carrier protein. Thus, rather like
enzymes, each carrier has its own shape and only allows
one molecule (or one group of closely related molecules) to
pass through.
Selection is by size; shape; charge.
Common molecules entering/leaving cells this way include
glucose and amino-acids.
It is passive and requires no energy from the cell.
If the molecule is changed on entering the cell (glucose +
ATP → glucose phosphate + ADP), then the
concentration gradient of glucose will be kept high, and
there will a steady one-way traffic.