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Facilitated Diffusion definitions

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  • Facilitated Diffusion
    A passive transport process where solutes move across membranes with the help of integral proteins, requiring no energy.
  • Passive Transport
    Movement of molecules across membranes without energy input, driven by concentration gradients.
  • Integral Membrane Protein
    A protein embedded within the membrane, essential for transporting solutes during facilitated diffusion.
  • Carrier
    A membrane protein that shifts shape to move solutes across, lacking a clear tunnel structure.
  • Transporter
    A protein facilitating solute movement by undergoing structural changes, synonymous with carrier.
  • Porin
    A membrane protein forming a tunnel, enabling solutes to pass through without structural alteration.
  • Channel
    A protein creating a membrane-spanning tunnel, allowing specific molecules to diffuse passively.
  • Aquaporin
    A specialized porin that accelerates water molecule diffusion through a membrane tunnel.
  • Ion Channel
    A channel protein permitting selective ion passage across membranes without energy or shape change.
  • Concentration Gradient
    A difference in solute concentration across a membrane, driving passive movement of molecules.
  • Membrane-Spanning Tunnel
    A structural feature in porins and channels that allows direct passage of solutes through the membrane.
  • Conformational Change
    A structural shift in carrier proteins enabling solute transport across the membrane.
  • Solute
    A molecule or ion transported across membranes during facilitated diffusion.