Membrane Function

How does the cell membrane control movement of materials?

Why?
The membrane is critical to the maintenance of homeostasis in living organisms. The cell membrane sepa-
rates the cell from the external environment and plays a critical role in regulating movement of material in
and out of the cell. Additionally, eukaryotic cells are made complex by the presence of internal membranes
that form organelles, so the cells may become specialized. These organelle membranes create compart-
ments within the cell that can do specific functions.

Model 1 – Types of Ions and Molecules in a Cell

Type 1 Ions Type 2 Molecules Type 3 Molecules Type 4 Molecules
Glucose: Water: Molecular oxygen (O2):
Potassium: K+ OH O
H H O O
Sodium: Na+ H O H
H Urea: Carbon dioxide (CO2):
OH H O
Calcium: Ca2+ O C O
OH OH
C
Chloride: Cl– H OH H2 N NH2

polar polar polar nonpolar

large small
small large
1. Consider the ions and molecules in Model 1.
a. Identify at least two substances that would need to move into a cell to maintain homeostasis.
Glucose and urea are the two chemicals that would need to enter a cell in order to preserve homeostasis.

b. Briefly explain why the cell needs each of the substances you identified in part a.
Since glucose is a crucial molecule that mitochondria employ to create ATP molecules—the cell's energy source—during
cellular respiration, glucose is required. Nitrogen, which is required to build proteins and nucleotides, is found in urea.

2. Consider the ions and molecules in Model 1.

a. Identify at least two substances that would need to move out of a cell to maintain homeostasis.

For cells to remain in a state of homeostasis, they must eliminate Ca2+ and Na+ ions.
b. Briefly explain the source of the molecules you identified in part a.
Cells need the calcium pump to prevent a hazardous build-up and regulate the Ca2+ concentration since a high calcium
build-up can set off a number of undesirable cellular activities. Additionally, sodium ions must be expelled since too much
Na+ may cause osmosis to be disrupted, which may cause a cell to die.
3. Complete the table by labeling the types of substances as polar or nonpolar and large or small.

Membrane Function 1
Model 2 – Selectively Permeable Cell Membrane

Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid

Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid

4. The four diagrams in Model 2 illustrate movement of four types of substances (see the table in
Model 1) across a phospholipid bilayer.
a. Use your knowledge of membrane structure and the chemical structures in Model 1 to
identify the shapes used in Model 2.
Charged particles/ion urea or water

hexagon(mo CO2 or other small nonpolar gases

st likely
phospholipid
glucose)

b. Label each diagram in Model 2 with the ion or molecule type (i.e., Type 1 Ions or Type 2
Molecules) based on the information in Model 1.
5. For each diagram in Model 2, circle the side of the membrane where the ion or molecule would
have originated in the normal function of a cell.

2 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Biology

 6. Assume the substances in Model 2 were on only one side of the membrane to start. The diagrams
illustrate what would happen after some time has passed.
a. Which substances in Model 2 appear to be completely blocked by the membrane?
The polar/charged ions were type 1 compounds.

b. Which substances in Model 2 appear to be able to pass freely through the membrane?
substances of types 4 and 3, which included gasses, urea, and water

c. Which substances in Model 2 appear to pass through the membrane with some difficulty?
Due to its size, glucose is a type 2 substance.

d. Urea appears to pass through the membrane more easily than glucose. What characteristic of
urea might help explain this observation?
This is because urea is a smaller molecule and will thus pass through the membrane more easily.

7. The majority of the membrane is made of nonpolar hydrocarbon chains. Use the diagrams in
Model 2 and the table in Model 1 to explain the permeability of the membrane for each of the
four types of substances in Model 1. Hint: Like dissolves like.
Type 1 Ions:
Because phospholipids are non-polar, charged or polar particles cannot pass through the cell membrane. Despite their small
size, their polarity prevents them from passing through.

Type 2 Molecules (Large, polar biomolecules):

Endocytosis must be used to actively deliver these big molecules into the cell. Because this mechanism moves more slowly
than diffusion, just one molecule was able to pass through the membrane.

Type 3 Molecules (Small, polar molecules):

These tiny, polar molecules are necessary for the cell to function. They therefore need active integral proteins to assist them
in passing via protein channels and into the cell.

Type 4 Molecules (Small, nonpolar molecules):

These molecules are tiny and non-polar, which allows them to easily diffuse through the cell membrane and into the cell.

Read This!
Diffusion is the process of molecules traveling through a membrane barrier from a location of high
concentration to a location of low concentration. The driving force for this process is simply the natural
movement of the molecules in random directions. Whether the molecules are allowed to cross or not is
only due to the polarity of the molecules themselves and their size. No energy is needed, which is why
diffusion is considered a type of passive transport. This process is illustrated in Model 2 for several types
of molecules.

Membrane Function 3
 Model 3 – Embedded Proteins
Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid

Extracellular Fluid Cytoplasmic Fluid

8. Label the embedded proteins in the membrane diagrams of Model 3. circled

9. What appears to be the effect of inserting a protein channel into the membrane on the move-
ment of molecules across the membrane?
Molecules from substances that could not previously pass through the membrane can now enter the cell thanks to a protein
channel.

10. Is the inner surface of the embedded protein likely to be polar or nonpolar in the examples
shown in Model 3? Explain your reasoning.
It is likely that the inserted protein has a polar interior surface. Because they are polar as well, this makes it easier for these
polar molecules and particles to pass through it and enter the cell.

Read This!
When an embedded protein assists in the passive transport of molecules across a barrier in the direction
of the concentration gradient (from high concentration to low concentration) it is called facilitated dif-
fusion. Embedded proteins may also be involved in active transport where the cell uses energy from ATP
to move molecules across a membrane against the concentration gradient.
11. Summarize the two types of passive transport discussed above. In your answer consider the types
of molecules that are transported, the direction of transport, and any external energy or special
structures that are needed in the process.
Diffusion and assisted diffusion are the two ATP-free forms of passive transport. The process by which tiny, non-polar molecules, such as
O2 and CO2, can readily penetrate the phospholipid bilayer and enter the cell is known as diffusion. Similar to this is assisted diffusion,
which likewise doesn't need energy. Transport proteins are necessary, though, for things to pass through. The idea of a concentration
gradient—where [low] flows to [high]—is also the foundation of both. Typically, Na+ and K+ are the molecules or substances that depend on
this approach. (For energy, certain enhanced diffusion methods do need ATP molecules.)

12. Summarize active transport. In your answer consider the direction of transport and any external
energy or special structures that are needed in the process.
When material needs to move from low concentrations to high concentrations, active transport is typically employed.
Consequently, energy in the form of ATP molecules is needed. Channel proteins are unique structures that aid in the movement
of materials into and out of cells and are involved in this kind of transport. (They also often run on ATP energy.)

4 POGIL™ Activities for AP* Biology

 Extension Questions
13. Some embedded proteins are called aquaporins. What molecule do you think aquaporins assist
in transporting across a membrane?
Since aqua is related to water, it makes sense that aquaporins help move water across cell membranes.

14. The molecules below are often moved into or out of cells during biological processes. Categorize
each molecule into one of the four types (from Model 1). Using that classification decide wheth-
er or not they would be able to cross the cell membrane freely without the help of a membrane
protein.
Nitrogen Hydronium Alanine Sucrose Bicarbonate
gas (amino acid)
OH OH
O CH 2 H2 C
Substance 4 O O
H3 C C O OH
freely cross into N2 H3O +

CH OH OH CH2OH C
membrane O HO O–
NH2 HO
Substance 3 needs help from OH
OH
protein channel Substance 2
Substance 2 Substance 2
needs large protein channel
needs a large need help from
or use endocytosis
protein channel or proteins or use
use endocytosis endocytosis

Membrane Function 5