Driving force - mineral nutrition, Biology

Assignment Help:

Driving Force - Mineral Nutrition

Let us now find out what is the driving force involved in protein mediated transport. Many membrane transport proteins allow specific solutes to move across the lipid bilayers. If the transported molecule is uncharged, then the difference in its concentration on the two sides of the membrane, that is its concentration gradient - determines the direction of transport. However, if the solute to be transported carries a net charge, then both its concentration gradient and the total electrical gradient across the membrane influence its transport. For instance, an ion will move across a membrane if there is sufficient electrical gradient across the membrane even if the concentration gradient does not favour such a movement.

In other words, the direction of movement is decided by which of the two forces is steepest. The two gradients together constitute the electrochemical gradient. The gradient can develop in part due to the selective permeability of the membrane. So the related diffusion of cations may be more than anions or vice versa. For example, K+ diffuses out mort rapidly due to differences in electrical gradient than Cl- in the immediate exterior and hence excess of Cl- in the cell gives it a negative charge. In fact, all plasma membranes have electric potentials (Transmembrane potential) across them with inside of the cell more negative compared to the outside. This is due to active transport of ions particularly H+ ions out of the cell. This potential difference allows the entry of positively charged ions into the cell but opposes the entry of negatively charged ions.


Related Discussions:- Driving force - mineral nutrition

Define food behaviour - public nutrition, Define Food Behaviour - Public Nu...

Define Food Behaviour - Public Nutrition? Food is not merely a means to survival but the fuel that drives the human body and the economic engine. What influences what we decide

Need for microbiological analysis of environment sample, Explain Need For M...

Explain Need For Microbiological Analysis of Environment Samples? Once the food is harvested, it passes through various operating steps before reaching the consumer. These step

Denaturing gel, Denaturing Gel is an agarose or the acrylamide gel run und...

Denaturing Gel is an agarose or the acrylamide gel run under conditions which destroy the secondary or tertiary protein or RNA. For protein, this generally means the inclusion of

What is the auditory tube and its function, Q. What is the auditory tube an...

Q. What is the auditory tube and its function? Auditory tube (Eustachian tube) connects each middle ear to the throat. This tube conducts air between tympanic cavity and outsid

Simplified bernoulli equation, The simplified Bernoulli equation may be  ap...

The simplified Bernoulli equation may be  applied to peak velocity measurements to make non-invasive estimates of pressure gradients. Where  Vl = peak velocity proximal to an obstr

Factors affecting biotic potential - population growth, Factors Affecting B...

Factors Affecting Biotic Potential - Population Growth Biotic potential differs from one species to another e.g., bacterial populations can grow faster than population of oak

The cell body of the toe motor neuron, Which of the following is true for a...

Which of the following is true for a toe motor neuron that excites a toe muscle that moves the big toe in the left foot? A. All of the axon terminals of the toe motor neuron ar

Common features of eye and limb development, Common Features of Eye and Lim...

Common Features of Eye and Limb Development A comparison of the embryonic development of the very much different organs, the eyes and the limb, points to various interesting

Density of water in relation to temperature, Density of Water in Relation t...

Density of Water in Relation to Temperature On cooling, water molecules come closer which makes water dense. It is most dense at 4°C (Figure shown below) but it is still a liqu

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd