What is Active transport?

It is a type of transport system which requires energy to transport large molecules like protein, sugar etc. from lower concentration to higher concentration. The energy is required in the form of ATP i.e., adenosine triphosphate.

Also Read: ATP Synthesis in Mitochondria

Types of Active Transport

There are 2 types of Active transport:

Primary Active Transport

In the primary active transport, transmembrane proteins help detect the molecule that has to be carried. These molecules are then pumped to the desired location utilizing ATP, a chemical energy.

For instance, primary active transport mechanism aids in the transportation of the Na/K via sodium/potassium pump. During this process, the cell’s transmembrane proteins detect the need for extracellular fluid and pump the necessary molecules using ATP. Consequently, two K ions are transported into the cells and the three Na ions are pump out of the cell.

Secondary Active Transport

Secondary active transport is processed by porin proteins present in the transmembrane. In this type of transport electromagnetic current forms a channel though which transportation of molecule occur. Secondary active transport consists of two other transport system which is known as Co-Transporters.

Co-transporters are categorized into two types:

• Symporters: Symporters works, when solute and ions travel in the same direction.
• Antiporters: Antiporters work, when ions and solute flow in the reverse direction. For example, sodium/calcium exchanger.

Active and Passive transport system is present in every phospholipid bilayer of the cell wall, which performs transportation of desired molecules such as nutrients, oxygen, water, and other molecules inside the cells and removal of waste products outside of the cell. Active transport requires ATP to transport molecules from lower concentrations to higher concentrations, while passive transport does not require ATP as it transports molecules from high concentration to low concentration gradient.

In this article, we will explore the key difference between Active and Passive Transport along with the types.