in facilitated diffusion the rate of diffusion approaches a
maximum, called Vmax, as the concentration of the diffusing
substance increases. This difference between simple
diffusion
and facilitated diffusion is demonstrated in
Figure 4-7. The figure shows that as the concentration
of the diffusing substance increases, the rate of simple
diffusion
continues to increase proportionately, but in the
case of facilitated diffusion, the rate of diffusion cannot
rise greater than the Vmax level.
What is it that limits the rate of facilitated diffusion?
A probable answer is the mechanism illustrated in Figure
4-8. This figure shows a carrier protein with a pore large
enough to transport a specific molecule partway through.
It also shows a binding “receptor” on the inside of the
protein carrier. The molecule to be transported enters the
pore and becomes bound. Then, in a fraction of a second,
a conformational or chemical change occurs in the carrier
protein, so the pore now opens to the opposite side of the
membrane. Because the binding force of the receptor is
weak, the thermal motion of the attached molecule causes