13.3
Transporte facilitado
Las propiedades químicas y físicas de las membranas plasmáticas hacen que sean selectivamente permeables. Dado que las membranas plasmáticas tienen re…
Los solutos como los iones cargados son repelidos por la capa hidrofóbica de la membrana, deteniendo así la difusión. Durante el proceso de transporte facilitado o difusión facilitada, las moléculas pueden viajar a través de la membrana a través de canales y proteínas transportadoras que permiten la difusión sin requerir energía adicional.
El primer tipo, las proteínas de canal, forman un poro hidrofílico a través del cual pueden pasar las moléculas cargadas, evitando así la capa hidrofóbica de la membrana. Estos canales están siempre abiertos o cerrados por algún mecanismo para controlar el flujo.
El segundo tipo, los portadores, se unen a un soluto específico que cambia la conformación de la proteína, lo que permite el movimiento del soluto por el gradiente. Por esta razón, la velocidad de transporte no depende del gradiente de concentración, sino del número de proteínas transportadoras disponibles.
A pesar de que es más complejo que la simple difusión, el transporte facilitado permite que la difusión ocurra a velocidades increíbles, con proteínas de canal que mueven decenas de millones de moléculas por segundo y proteínas portadoras que mueven de 1.000 a un millón de moléculas por segundo.
View the full transcript and gain access to JoVE Core videos
Q1: Why can't charged ions simply diffuse across the plasma membrane?
Charged ions are repelled by the hydrophobic layer of the membrane, which prevents them from crossing. Since plasma membranes contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, charged substances cannot traverse the hydrophobic core without assistance. This is why special membrane transport proteins are required to enable ions to cross successfully.
Q2: What is the difference between channel proteins and carrier proteins in facilitated transport?
Channel proteins form a hydrophilic pore allowing charged molecules to pass through and avoid the hydrophobic layer. Carrier proteins bind to specific solutes, causing a conformational change that enables movement down the concentration gradient. While channel proteins move tens of millions of molecules per second, carrier proteins move 1,000 to a million molecules per second.
Q3: How do gated channels control the movement of ions across membranes?
Gated channels remain closed until a particular ion or substance binds to the channel or another mechanism triggers opening. These channels are found in muscle and nerve cells, where controlled opening and closing regulates ion concentration changes. Without this regulated barrier, muscle contraction would not occur efficiently.
Q4: What determines the rate of transport when using carrier proteins?
The rate of carrier protein transport depends on the number of carrier proteins available, not the concentration gradient. When a carrier protein binds to a specific solute, it undergoes a conformational change enabling movement down the gradient. This means transport speed is limited by protein availability rather than how steep the concentration difference is.
Q5: Why is facilitated transport faster than simple diffusion?
Facilitated transport enables diffusion to occur at incredible rates through specialized membrane proteins. Channel proteins move tens of millions of molecules per second, while carrier proteins move 1,000 to a million molecules per second. This dramatic increase in speed allows cells to transport essential substances efficiently without requiring additional energy.
Q6: What role do aquaporins play in membrane transport?
Aquaporins are channel proteins that specifically facilitate the transport of water through the plasma membrane. As channel proteins, they form a hydrophilic pore allowing water molecules to pass through while avoiding the hydrophobic layer. This selective transport is essential for maintaining proper water balance across cell membranes.
Q7: How does facilitated transport relate to the significance of membrane transport in cells?
Facilitated transport enables cells to move essential charged ions and molecules across membranes without energy expenditure, supporting critical cellular functions. By allowing rapid, selective transport of substances like ions and water, facilitated transport maintains cellular homeostasis and enables processes like muscle contraction. Understanding the significance of membrane transport reveals how cells regulate their internal environment.