In plants and animals, mineral absorption, also called mineral uptake is the way in which minerals enter the cellular material, typically following the same pathway as water. In plants, the entrance portal for mineral uptake is usually through the roots. Some mineral ions diffuse in-between the

cells Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery w ...

. In contrast to water, some minerals are actively taken up by plant cells. Mineral

nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...

concentration in roots may be 10,000 times more than in surrounding soil. During transport throughout a plant, minerals can exit xylem and enter cells that require them. Mineral ions cross

plasma membrane The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane (PM) or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment (t ...

s by a chemiosmotic mechanism. Plants absorb minerals in ionic form:

nitrate Nitrate is a polyatomic ion A polyatomic ion, also known as a molecular ion, is a covalent bonded set of two or more atoms, or of a metal complex, that can be considered to behave as a single unit and that has a net charge that is not zer ...

(NO₃⁻), phosphate (HPO₄⁻) and potassium ions (K⁺); all have difficulty crossing a charged plasma membrane. It has long been known plants expend energy to actively take up and concentrate mineral ions. Proton pump hydrolyzes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to transport H⁺ ions out of cell; this sets up an electrochemical gradient that causes positive ions to flow into cells. Negative ions are carried across the plasma membrane in conjunction with H⁺ ions as H⁺ ions diffuse down their concentration gradient. In animals, minerals found in low small amounts are microminerals while the seven elements that are required in large quantity are known as macrominerals; these are Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, and S. In most cases, minerals that enter the blood pass through the epithelial cells which line the gastrointestinal mucosa of the small intestine. Minerals can diffuse through the pores of the tight junction in paracellular absorption if there is an electrochemical gradient. Through the process of solvent drag, minerals can also enter with water when solubilized by dipole-ion interactions. Furthermore, the absorption of trace elements can be enhanced by the presence of amino acids that are covalently bonded to the mineral. Goff. (2021). 10 Mechanisms by Which Amino Acids May Enhance Mineral Absorption in Animals. Journal of Animal Science, 99(Supplement_1), 13–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab054.023

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See also