answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Yes, water does not pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes. It must have a special protein channel to move through.


The plasma membrane of all cells (archaea, eubacteria, plants, animals, fungi) is made of a double layer of phospholipids, which have tails of hydrophobic (water repelling) fatty acids that aggregate together in the middle of the membrane, and "heads" of a wide variety of phosphate complexes that are hydrophilic (water attracting) and form layers on both the inside and outside of the membrane.This structure forms the basic sheet of membrane that surrounds all cells on their outer surface.Only very small, uncharged, and nonpolar molecules can pass directly through the lipid bilayer structure, because the nonpolar layer of fatty acids tails repels ions (charged atoms or molecules) and molecules of any size that are polar.There are very few molecules small enough to simply diffuse (or float) through this structure.The only examples I can find are nonpolar gas molecules like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.All other molecules must have a specific membrane protein to allow them in or out of cells. These proteins can take various forms (channels, gates, transport mechanisms of multiple types.) Water is a very polar molecule and special channels called aquaporins were discovered in 1990 that allow water molecules to pass through in single file.Since they were first found, hundreds of specific types have been found, including eleven specific types in human cells. Cells that have these channels allow water to diffuse in and out.Cells without them are practically impervious to water.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

No, water can cross by simple diffusion across the membrane. However, the protein aquaporin greatly speeds up the process.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Glucose

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is protein needed to move water across a membrane?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What is the process of water diffusing across a what membrane?

Water diffusses across a semipermeable membrane


The movement of water across a membrane is trem?

The movement of water across a membrane is called osmosis.


What is the transport of water across the cell membrane called?

Movement of water across a membrane is called OSMOSIS.


When will water stopping across a membrane?

When will water stop moving across a membrane when the water concentration is equal on both sides.


How is water transported across the membrane?

Water is transported by a passive transport called osmosis. Osmosis is diffusion of water across the membrane.


What is aquaporins?

Aquaporins are protein molecules embedded in the phospholipid bilayer (cell membrane ) of some cells. They transport water across the cell membrane.


In osmosis which membrane provides net movement of water without movement of NaCl?

Osmosis across a selectively permeable membrane allows water across but disallows other particles across the membrane.


How does nutrients cross plasma membrane?

Things like oxygen, CO2 and lipids cross the membrane with simple diffusion. Water can cross the membrane with osmosis when the water moves through a channel protein in the plasma membrane. Glucose, potassium, sodium etc. moves through a carrier protein in the membrane with the process of active movement. In the process of active movement energy is needed and it is given by the glucose or ATP from the cell.


How is passive transport different then active transport?

An example of passive transport would be the process of osmosis (water diffusing between a membrane-- from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration). It is known as passive transport because no energy is needed in order to move the water across the membrane. When no energy is needed to move the substance it is considered passive transport. On the other hand, when energy IS needed to transport molecules or substances across a membrane it is referred to as active transport. An example of this would be a calcium pump located in the lipid bilayer of a plasma membrane which can transport potassium (K+) ions across it. Energy is needed in order to move those potassium ions across the membrane, and therefore is referred to as active transport.


Water molecules diffuse through a selectively permeable membrane?

Water diffuses by facilitated diffusion, passing through water permeable protein channels embedded in the cell membrane. Water molecules can not pass through the lipid bilayer because water is polar. However, polar molecules pass though the cell membrane through the protein channels. The proteins that aid water in passing through the cell membrane are called aquaporins. "Aqua" for water, and "porin" for pore. A "water pore" in essence.


In an isotonic environment would there be an equal movement of water across the cell membrane?

There would be no net movement of water across the membrane because the amount of solute inside and outside of the membrane is equal.


What kinds of molecules freely diffuse across a semipermeable membrane?

Water molecules freely diffuse across a semipermeable membrane.