Diffusion across a membrane is passive transport. The pumping of solutes across a membrane is active transport and requires energy.
Most solutes pass through transport proteins embedded in the cell membrane.
Slide 9
The most important transport protein for active transport is the proton pump.
Proton pumps in plant cells create a hydrogen ion gradient that is a form of potential energy that can be harnessed to do work.
They contribute to a voltage known as a membrane potential.
Slide 10
Proton pumps provide energy for solute transport
CYTOPLASM
EXTRACELLULAR FLUID
ATP
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
Proton pump generates mem- brane potential and gradient.
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Slide 11
Plant cells use energy stored in the proton gradient and membrane potential to drive the transport of many different solutes.
The “coat-tail” effect of cotransport is also responsible for the uptake of the sugar sucrose by plant cells.
Slide 12
Solute transport in plant cells
CYTOPLASM
EXTRACELLULAR FLUID
K+
K+
K+
K+
K+
K+
K+
Transport protein
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(a) Membrane potential and cation uptake
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
(b) Cotransport of an anion with H+
H+
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H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
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(c) Cotransport of a neutral solute with H+
S
S
S
S
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S
Slide 13
Cotransport - a transport protein couples the diffusion of one solute to the active transport of another.
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
NO3−
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
H+
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Cotransport of an anion with H+
Slide 14
To survive, plants must balance water uptake and loss.
Osmosis determines the net uptake or water loss by a cell and is affected by solute concentration and pressure.