Diffusion and directed transport
1. Movement of material within the cell and across membranes requires a driving force
2. For diffusive processes, the driving force is the electrochemical gradient
3. The electrical component of this force requires a separation of charge
4. Intact membranes are needed to provide the voltage buildup that will allow current to flow
5. Within the cytoplasm or extracellular fluid, diffusion is entirely driven by concentration gradients
6. The generation of these gradients is an active process linked to ATP hydrolysis
7. Once the gradients are generated, they will produce the movement of material without further ATP input
8. Across the membrane, there can be both concentration and electrical gradients for charged moieties
9. Transport within the cell comes in two forms: diffusion allows material to move in all directions, while ATP-driven processes move material in particular directions