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Index >> Membrane Transport >> Facilitated Diffusion

Facilitated Diffusion

Facilitated Diffusion
Facilitated diffusion differs from simple diffusion in the following respects.

(1) it shows saturation kinetics. Increase in the concentration of the substance to be transported results ill an increase, in the rate of transfer up to an asymptotic value.

The rate of influx becomes constant and does not increase with increase in solute concentration

(2) Saturation kinetics indicates that a lipid-soluble carrier molecule is involved in the passage of the solute across the membrane. When all the carrier molecules are occupied with the solute, the rate of influx becomes constant.

(3) Facilitated diffusion is stereospecific, i. e. only one of the two possible isomers, L-or D is transported

(4) It has been frequently stated that no metabolic energy is required for facilitated diffusion. Work with E. coli has, however, shown that facilitated diffusion does not take place unless there is a source of energy. This claim has been supported by later investigations

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