What type of transport supplies a cell with glucose?
The type of transport that supplies a cell with glucose is called facilitated diffusion. Facilitated diffusion is a passive transport mechanism that requires the assistance of specific membrane proteins, known as glucose transporters, to move glucose molecules across the cell membrane. Here's an explanation of how facilitated diffusion works:
1. Glucose transporters: The cell membrane contains specialized proteins called glucose transporters or glucose carrier proteins. These transporters serve as passageways or channels for glucose molecules to move across the membrane.
2. Concentration gradient: Inside the cell, glucose concentrations are usually lower than in the extracellular fluid. This forms a concentration gradient favoring the movement of glucose into the cell.
3. Binding and transport: When there is a higher concentration of glucose outside the cell, glucose molecules bind to the glucose transporters on the outer face of the cell membrane. This binding induces a conformational change in the transporter protein, allowing it to transport the glucose molecule across the membrane.
4. Release into the cell: As the glucose molecule is transported across the cell membrane, the transporter undergoes another conformational change, releasing the glucose molecule into the cytoplasm of the cell.
5. Equilibrium: Facilitated diffusion continues until the concentration of glucose inside the cell becomes equal to the concentration outside the cell. At this point, the transporters may stop transporting glucose, or they may continue to maintain the equilibrium.
It is important to note that facilitated diffusion does not require energy input from the cell. It relies solely on the concentration gradient of glucose to drive the movement of molecules across the membrane.