Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

4.2: Uptake Lineup and Cell Membranes

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    20983

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Having completed digestion in the small intestine, a number of compounds are ready for uptake into the enterocyte. The figure below shows the macronutrient uptake lineup, or what is ready to be taken up into the enterocyte.

    clipboard_e0c34d3105051a3185449b4d216b81260.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The macronutrient uptake lineup

    From lipids, we have the lysolecithin (from phospholipid), 2-monoglyceride (from triglycerides), fatty acids, and cholesterol. From protein, there are small peptides (di- and tripeptides) and amino acids. From carbohydrates, only the monosaccharides glucose, galactose, and fructose will be taken up. The other macronutrient, water, has not been discussed so far because it does not undergo digestion.

    ADAPT \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    However, these compounds must now cross the plasma (cell) membrane, which is a phospholipid bilayer. In the cell membrane, the hydrophilic heads of the phospholipids point into the lumen as well as towards the interior of the cell, while the tails are on the interior of the plasma membrane as shown below.

    clipboard_ebfa41353c5218c46eee8a371a786344a.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Plasma membrane of a cell

    The plasma membrane contains proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates in addition to the phospholipids. Membrane proteins, such as, channels, transporters, carriers, and pumps are important for moving some compounds through the cell membrane. The figure and two videos below do a nice job of illustrating the components of the cell membrane.

    clipboard_efe0caf10709691ad43e979511c1b62da.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Cell membrane1
    Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): The movement of molecules across the cell membrane requiring energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owEgqrq51zY
    Video \(\PageIndex{2}\): A video showing inside a cell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW0lqf4Fqpg
    ADAPT \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    References

    1. en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ce..._diagram_4.svg

    This page titled 4.2: Uptake Lineup and Cell Membranes is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brian Lindshield via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.