Active transport energy required

Molecules can passively traverse the bilayer down electrochemical gradients by simple diffusion ot by facilitated diffusion. This spontaneous movement toward equilibrium contrasts with active transport, which requires energy because it constitutes movement against an electrochemical gradient. Figure 41-8 provides a schematic representation of these mechanisms. 

Since active transport mechanisms require energy, the incubation temperature during the assay plays a crucial role. At 4°C, the fluidity of the cell membrane is reduced, the metabolism of the cell is downregulated, and energy-dependent transport processes are suppressed. Consequently, the amount of cell-associated target system refers mainly to the cytoadhesive fraction. In contrast, incubation at 37°C increases the fluidity of the cell membrane and the metabolic activity to an optimum, so both cytoadhesion and cytoinvasion occur at the same time. Thus, the uptake rate can be calculated from the difference in signal intensity measured upon incubation at both respective temperatures. 

Active Transport The active transport mechanism requires energy to drive the transportation of drugs against the concentration gradient, from low to high. The transportation rate is dependent on the availability of carriers and energy supply via a number of biological pathways. 

Since active transport often requires energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), compounds or conditions that inhibit energy production (e.g., iodoac-etate, fluoride, cyanide, anaerobiosis) will impair active transport. The transport of a given compound also can be inhibited competitively by the coadministration of other compounds of sufficient structural similarity that they can compete with the first substance for sites on the carrier protein. 

This must obviously be the opposite of passive transport. Active transport does require energy, usually in the form of the consumption of ATP or GTP, because the molecules are moving against the concentration gradient from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration. The most well known active transport system is the Sodium-Potassium-ATPase Pump (Na" "- K+ZATPase) which maintains an imbalance of sodium and potassium ions inside and outside the membrane, respectively. See Figure 3. 

In active transport, energy is required to move a substance across a cell membrane. 

The transport of must hexose (glucose and fructose) across the plasmic membrane activates a complex system of proteinic transporters not fully explained (Section 1.3.2). This mechanism facilitates the diffusion of must hexoses in the cytoplasm, where they are rapidly metabolized. Since solute moves in the direction of the concentration gradient, from the concentrated outer medium to the diluted inner medium, it is not an active transport system requiring energy. 

In Eq. (9.164) the transport term is represented by E AG is the activation free energy required to deposit the first strip. The explicit value of AG is defined by I. The first exponential term within the bracket is thus the Turnbull-Fisher relation for the steady-state nucleation rate of monomers and nonfolded polymers. This conventional expression for the steady-state nucleation rate is modulated by the second term within the brackets. This term is present because of the basic assumption that the nuclei are composed of regularly folded chains. The extent of the modulation depends on the difference between I and T. When this difference is large there will be a signihcant effect. However, when (I — T) is small there will scarcely be any influence and the conventional expression will apply. Under these circumstances there is no indication in the equation that the chains within the nucleus are regularly folded. 

Active Transport. Maintenance of the appropriate concentrations of K" and Na" in the intra- and extracellular fluids involves active transport, ie, a process requiring energy (53). Sodium ion in the extracellular fluid (0.136—0.145 AfNa" ) diffuses passively and continuously into the intracellular fluid (<0.01 M Na" ) and must be removed. This sodium ion is pumped from the intracellular to the extracellular fluid, while K" is pumped from the extracellular (ca 0.004 M K" ) to the intracellular fluid (ca 0.14 M K" ) (53—55). The energy for these processes is provided by hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and requires the enzyme Na" -K" ATPase, a membrane-bound enzyme which is widely distributed in the body. In some cells, eg, brain and kidney, 60—70 wt % of the ATP is used to maintain the required Na" -K" distribution. 

Energy for maintenance is the energy required for survival, or non-growth related purposes. It includes activities such as active transport across membranes and turnover (replacement synthesis) of macromolecules. 

Major differences are the following (1) Facihtated diffusion can operate bidirectionally, whereas active transport is usually unidirectional. (2) Active transport always occurs against an electrical or chemical gradient, and so it requires energy. 

Glucose and galactose enter the absorptive cells by way of secondary active transport. Cotransport carrier molecules associated with the disaccharidases in the brush border transport the monosaccharide and a Na+ ion from the lumen of the small intestine into the absorptive cell. This process is referred to as "secondary" because the cotransport carriers operate passively and do not require energy. However, they do require a concentration gradient for the transport of Na+ ions into the cell. This gradient is established by the active transport of Na+ ions out of the absorptive cell at the basolateral surface. Fructose enters the absorptive cells by way of facilitated diffusion. All monosaccharide molecules exit the absorptive cells by way of facilitated diffusion and enter the blood capillaries. 

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