Final answer:
Transport maximum is the saturation point of transport capacity when all carrier proteins are bound, and cells can increase transport by producing more carriers or using active transport and endocytosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term transport maximum refers to the point at which carrier proteins within the cell membrane become saturated with their ligand and cannot facilitate any increase in the rate of transport, regardless of the concentration gradient of the substrate. This saturation occurs because there is a finite number of carrier proteins available, and once they are all bound to their ligands, the system has reached its maximum capacity for transport.
Cells can increase their transport capacity by synthesizing more carrier proteins and integrating them into the cell membrane, which would allow for the transport of more molecules simultaneously. Additionally, cells can employ other mechanisms such as active transport, where energy in the form of ATP is used to move substances against their concentration gradient, or mechanisms like endocytosis to absorb larger quantities of materials.