Biochemistry - Transport Mechanisms

These flashcards cover key concepts related to membrane transport mechanisms in biochemistry.

Facilitated diffusion

A passive transport process that uses transport proteins to move molecules across a membrane without energy input.

Primary active transport

The process by which a cell uses energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport molecules against their concentration gradient.

Secondary active transport

The use of an electrochemical gradient to drive the transport of molecules against their concentration gradient.

Channel proteins

Proteins that form pores in membranes to allow specific ions or molecules to pass through by passive transport.

Carrier proteins

Proteins that bind to specific substances and change shape to shuttle them across the membrane, can be involved in both passive and active transport.

GLUT1

A glucose transporter found in red blood cells that facilitates the transport of glucose into the cell.

Symport

A type of secondary active transport where two different substances are transported in the same direction across a membrane.

Antiport

A type of secondary active transport where two different substances are transported in opposite directions across a membrane.

ΔG (Gibbs Free Energy)

A thermodynamic quantity that represents the maximum reversible work obtainable from a system at constant temperature and pressure.