What term refers to the process by which a cell binds to a substance causing a conformational change for movement across the membrane?

The term that describes the process by which a cell binds to a substance and experiences a conformational change for movement across the membrane is facilitated diffusion. This process involves specific carrier proteins or channels in the cell membrane that allow certain molecules to cross the membrane more easily than they would through simple diffusion. When a substance binds to these proteins, the structure of the protein changes, effectively transporting the substance from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration without requiring energy from ATP.

Facilitated diffusion is crucial for the movement of large or polar molecules, like glucose or ions, which cannot pass through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane directly due to their size or charge. Because this transport is driven by the concentration gradient, it is considered a passive process, but it is distinguished from passive diffusion due to the involvement of specific transport mechanisms.