Difference between active and passive cell transport

Active and passive cell transport is the transfer of solutes from one side of the cell membrane to the other. Transportation is passive when no power source is required metabolic as ATP, while transport is active when using ATP as an energy source.

Cell membranes are mainly composed of a lipid bilayer that makes it difficult for certain types of substances to pass through. This barrier function allows the cell to maintain solute concentrations in the cytosol different from the extracellular environment or intracellular compartments.

Passive transport	Active transport
Definition	Solute transfer across the lipid membrane without energy.	Transfer of solutes through the lipid membrane associated with an energy source.
Concentration gradient	In favor.	Against.
Membrane proteins	Channels and conveyors.	Conveyors or pumps.
Driving force	Electrochemical gradient.	ATP.
Examples	Water transport through aquaporinas.	Na sodium ion transport⁺ by sodium-potassium ATP-handle.

What is passive cell transport?

Passive transport is the process that allows molecules and ions to pass through the cell membrane without an energy source.

instagram story viewer

The concentration gradient o concentration difference of a species between the two sides of the membrane is the impulse that determines the movement and direction of passive transport.

When the solute is charged (positive or negative), the potential difference between the two sides of the membrane (membrane potential) can also drive transport. In this case, the concentration gradient and the electrical gradient combined form the driving force electrochemical gradient.

By generating a difference in ionic concentrations across the lipid layer, the cell membrane can store potential energy in the form of electrochemical gradients. Electrochemical gradients are used to:

drive various transport processes,
transmit electrical signals in electrically excitable cells and
produce the majority of ATP in the mitochondria, chloroplast, and bacteria.

Passive transport characteristics

The movement of solutes follows the concentration gradient, from higher concentration to lower concentration.
It depends on the concentration gradient, the size of the particles and the temperature.
Ions and small molecules are mobilized.
It does not require hydrolysis of ATP.
It is mediated by transmembrane proteins, channels and transporters, in facilitated diffusion.

Types of passive transport

Molecules and ions can passively pass through the membrane through different mechanisms: simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion or osmosis.

Simple diffusion

Small nonpolar molecules like oxygen O₂ and carbon dioxide CO₂ they dissolve easily in lipid membranes. Small uncharged polar molecules like water H₂O and urea also diffuse through the membrane in a slow or restricted manner. In general, lipophilic or fat-like molecules can cross the membrane by simple diffusion.

Facilitated dissemination

Cells developed mechanisms for transfer of water-soluble molecules and ions across the membrane. Through specialized transmembrane proteins (they cross the membrane) ions and molecules are transported. As diffusion from higher concentration to lower concentration occurs with the help of "passageways", we speak of facilitated diffusion. Thus:

essential nutrients enter the cell;
remove metabolic waste products, and
regulate intracellular ion concentrations.

The two main classes of membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of molecules in and out across the lipid membrane are:

the transporters: they are proteins that have moving parts, such as doors of the membrane that open and close allowing the solute to pass through. They are like revolving doors in the membrane.
the channels: they form narrow hydrophilic pores that allow passive movement, mainly of small inorganic ions. Although water can diffuse through lipid membranes, all cells contain protein channels called aquaporins that increase the permeability of these membranes to water.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane, when on one side there is a solute that cannot cross the membrane. Only water movement occurs in osmosis.

What is active cell transport?

Active transport is the process by which the cell transports material against its concentration gradient, using ATP as an energy source.

Active transport characteristics

It is made through integral membrane proteins.
It is specific to the solute.
It experiences saturation, that is, when all the binding sites of the solute are occupied, no matter how much more substrate is added, the flow remains constant.

Types of active transport proteins

In cells, at least three types of proteins are described with the capacity to carry out active transport. Below its description.

ATP pumps

ATP pumps carry out solute transport coupled to ATP hydrolysis, that is, ATP releases a phosphate group (PO₄^-3) and becomes ADP. The energy released in hydrolysis is what "pumps" the solute from one side of the membrane to the other.

Active transport driven by ATP hydrolysis is also known as primary active transport.

There are three types of ATP pumps:

P-type pumps: the protein is phosphorylated (a phosphate group is attached to the protein) in the transport process. Examples: sodium-potassium pumps, calcium pumps.
Type-F pumps: Also called ATP synthetases as they use the proton gradient to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate. Examples: chloroplast ATP synthetase associated with the light-dependent phase of photosynthesis.
ABC conveyors: they are membrane proteins that carry small molecules. Examples: the cholesterol transporter ABCG1, the transporter MDR (multidrug resistance).

Coupled conveyors

The transport of an ion or molecule is concomitant with another solute. In this case, the solute in higher concentration on one side of the membrane passes to the other side and promotes the movement of the solute from lower to higher concentration. Ion gradient driven transporters are also called secondary active transport.

It is carried out by carrier proteins known as symporters and anti-carriers. A symporter or cotransporter transports a solute following its concentration gradient in the same direction as another solute against the concentration gradient.

For example, the small intestine sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter. In this case, glucose and sodium from inside the intestine are absorbed into the intestinal cell.

The epithelial cells of the intestine or kidney have a large number of symporters that are driven by the gradient of the sodium Na ion.⁺, being more concentrated outside the cell.

In bacteria, lactose transport is coupled to hydrogen ion transport H⁺.

A anti-carrier or exchanger performs the transfer of solutes in opposite directions. For example, the sodium / proton Na anticarrier⁺/ H⁺ sodium enters the cell and proton leaves the outside.

Light activated pumps

Predominant in bacteria and archaea, this transport of solutes takes place from lower to higher concentration thanks to the capture of light energy. For example, the bacteriorhodopsins and halorhodopsins are proton pumps activated by light.

It may interest you:

Animal and plant cell
Endocytosis and exocytosis.

Ana Zita

Doctor in Biochemistry from the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC), with a degree in Bioanalysis from the Central University of Venezuela.