Question

A carrier protein transfers a solute across the phospholipid bilayer via facilitated diffusion which behaves much like an enzyme-substrate reaction.
A distinction between the process by which an enzyme converts substrate to product and facilitated transport is

• A. Solutes are able to undergo transport without chemical modification.
• B. Solutes are restricted to flow in one direction depending on the orientation of the carrier protein.
• C. Solutes are directly transported without interacting with or influencing the conformational state of the carrier protein.
• D. Solutes are transported whether or not there is a competitive or noncompetitive inhibitor present.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Solutes are able to undergo transport without chemical modification.

This process involves change in conformation of carrier proteins.

The flow can be bidirectional too.

Many times competitive inhibitors block the flow of molecules.

The difference between enzyme action and facilitated transport is that in the latter solutes are transported without undergoing chemical modification.

So the correct answer is 'Solutes are able to undergo transport without chemical modification'.