MadSci Network: Cell Biology
Query:

Re: What organelles does active transport involve in

Date: Mon Nov 26 05:52:07 2007
Posted By: Eli Hestermann, Assistant Professor
Area of science: Cell Biology
ID: 1193458495.Cb
Message:

Hey, Serena! It looks like your question got cut off half-way through 
somehow, but I'll do my best to answer it.

The membranes that surround all organelles are what's called "semi-
permeable." That means some things go through the membrane very easily, 
somethings go through more slowly, and some things pretty much can't go 
through at all. The fatty interior of the membrane is the key, and it 
means that in general, the bigger and more charged that something is the 
harder it is to get through the membrane.

The cell and organelles within the cell still need to get things through 
that fatty interior of the membrane, so proteins in the membrane allow 
large and/or charged molecules through. These proteins can allow passive 
transport, where things move from high concentration to low concentration 
(sort of like water flowing downhill), or as you say they can be involved 
in active tranport, which requires energy (you have to have a pump to 
move that water back uphill!).

Since the whole purpose of organelles is to have specialized areas within 
the cell, they have to keep some things inside at high concentration and 
some things outside at high concentration. If they didn't, the inside of 
the organelle would be just like the inside of rest of the cell. This 
makes about as much sense as a house with open doors and no roof. Because 
some of those things will leak through the membrane on their own, the 
organelles need active transporters to get them back on the proper side 
of the membrane.

So the short answer is: all organelles have active transport. 

I hope this answers your question. If not, try posting again with a 
little more information.


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