Question

Facilitative transporter ___________

(a) Helps in facilitated diffusion

(b) Changes conformation

(c) Transports molecules passively

(d) Changes conformation, transports molecules and facilitated diffusion

I got this question in an interview for internship.

This is a very interesting question from Movement of Substances Across Cell Membranes topic in chapter Cellular Membranes of Cell Biology

Answer 1

The correct answer is (d) Changes conformation, transports molecules and facilitated diffusion

Easy explanation: Facilitated diffusion is a method by which molecules are diffused across the cell membrane with the help of an intermediate protein called facilitative transporter. The diffusing substance binds selectively to this membrane-spanning protein that facilitates in diffusion process. It undergoes conformational change, exposing the solute to the other surface of the membrane.