Human Physiology/Cell physiology

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Contents
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1 Cell Structure and Function

1.1 What is a Cell?

1.2 Specialized Cells of the Human Body

1.3 Cell Size

1.4 Cellular Organization

1.4.1 Cell Membranes

1.4.2 Protein and Cholesterol

1.4.3 Passive Transport Across the Cell Membrane

1.4.4 Active Transport Across the Cell Membrane

1.4.4.1 Protein Pumps

1.4.4.2 Vesicular Transport

2 Parts of the Cell

2.1 Cytoplasm

2.2 Organelles

2.2.1 Nucleus

2.2.2 Centrioles

2.2.3 Ribosomes

2.2.4 Mitochondria

2.2.5 Endoplasmic Reticulum

2.2.6 Golgi Apparatus

2.2.7 Vacuoles

2.2.8 Lysosomes

2.2.9 Peroxisomes

2.3 Extracellular structures

3 Cell Junctions

4 Cell Metabolism

4.1 Energy Rich Molecules

4.1.1 Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

4.1.2 Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD)

4.1.3 Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH)

4.1.4 Cellular Respiration

4.2 Glycolysis

4.3 Krebs Cycle

4.4 Electron Transport System

4.4.1 Redox Reaction

5 Cell Building Blocks

5.1 Lipids

5.2 Carbohydrates

5.3 Proteins

5.4 Enzymes

6 Review Questions

7 Glossary

[edit] Cell Structure and Function

[edit] What is a Cell?
Cells are the microscopic fundamental units of all living things. Every living thing has
cells: bacteria, protozoans, fungi, plants, and animals are the main groups (Kingdoms) of
living things. Some organisms are made up of just one cell (e.g. bacteria and protozoans),
but animals, including human beings, are multicellular. An adult human body is
composed of about 100,000,000,000,000 cells! Each cell has basic requirements to
sustain it, and the body's organ systems are largely built around providing the many
trillions of cells with those basic needs (such as oxygen, food, and waste removal).
There are about 200 different kinds of specialized cells in the human body. When many

identical cells are organized together it is called a tissue (such as muscle tissue, nervous
tissue, etc). Various tissues organized together for a common purpose are called organs
(e.g. the stomach is an organ, and so is the skin, the brain, and the uterus).
Ideas about cell structure have changed considerably over the years. Early biologists saw
cells as simple membranous sacs containing fluid and a few floating particles. Today's
biologists know that cells are inconceivably more complex than this. Therefore, a strong
knowledge of the various cellular organelles and their functions is important to any
physiologist. If a person's cells are healthy, then that person is healthy. All physiological
processes, disease, growth and development can be described at the cellular level.

[edit] Specialized Cells of the Human Body

Although there are specialized cells - both in structure and function - within the body, all
cells have similarities in their structural organization and metabolic needs (such as
maintaining energy levels via conversion of carbohydrate to ATP and using genes to
create and maintain proteins).
Here are some of the different types of specialized cells within the human body.

Nerve Cells: Also called Neurons, these cells are in the nervous system and
function to process and transmit information (it is hypothesized). They are the
core components of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. They use
chemical synapses that can evoke electrical signals, called action potentials, to
relay signals throughout the body.

Epithelial cells: Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, absorption,

protection, transcellular transport, sensation detection, and selective permeability.
Epithelium lines both the outside (skin) and the inside cavities and lumen of
bodies.

Exocrine cells: These cells secrete products through ducts, such as mucus, sweat,
or digestive enzymes. The products of these cells go directly to the target organ
through the ducts. For example, the bile from the gall bladder is carried directly
into the duodenum via the bile duct.

Endocrine cells: These cells are similar to exocrine cells, but secrete their
products directly into the bloodstream instead of through a duct. Endocrine cells
are found throughout the body but are concentrated in hormone-secreting glands
such as the pituitary. The products of the endocrine cells go throughout the body
in the blood stream but act on specific organs by receptors on the cells of the
target organs. For example, the hormone estrogen acts specifically on the uterus
and breasts of females because there are estrogen receptors in the cells of these
target organs.

Blood Cells: The most common types of blood cells are:

red blood cells (erythrocytes). The main function of red blood cells is to
collect oxygen in the lungs and deliver it through the blood to the body
tissues. Gas exchange is carried out by simple diffusion (To see this in
action please click here).

various types of white blood cells (leukocytes). They are produced in the
bone marrow and help the body to fight infectious disease and foreign
objects in the immune system. White cells are found in the circulatory
system, lymphatic system, spleen, and other body tissues.

[edit] Cell Size

Cells are the smallest stuctural & functional living units within our body, but play a big
role in making our body function properly. Many cells never have a large increase in size
after they are first formed from a parental cell. Typical stem cells reproduce, double in
size, then reproduce again. Most Cytosolic contents such as the endomembrane system
and the cytoplasm easily scale to larger sizes in larger cells. If a cell becomes too large,
the normal cellular amount of DNA may not be adequate to keep the cell supplied with
RNA. Large cells often replicate their chromosomes to an abnormally high amount or
become multinucleated. Large cells that are primarily for nutrient storage can have a
smooth surface membrane, but metabolically active large cells often have some sort of
folding of the cell surface membrane in order to increase the surface area available for
transport functions.

[edit] Cellular Organization

Several different molecules interact to form organelles with our body. Each type of
organelle has a specific function. Organelles perform the vital functions that keep our
cells alive.
[edit] Cell Membranes
The boundary of the cell, sometimes called the plasma membrane, separates internal
metabolic events from the external environment and controls the movement of materials
into and out of the cell. This membrane is very selective about what it allows to pass
through; this characteristic is referred to as "selective permeability." For example, it
allows oxygen and nutrients to enter the cell while keeping toxins and waste products out.
The plasma membrane is a double phospholipid membrane, or a lipid bilayer, with the
nonpolar hydrophobic tails pointing toward the inside of the membrane and the polar
hydrophilic heads forming the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane.

The molecular structure of the cell membrane.

[edit] Protein and Cholesterol
Proteins and cholesterol molecules are scattered throughout the flexible phospholipid
membrane. Peripheral proteins attach loosely to the inner or outer surface of the plasma
membrane. Integral proteins lie across the membrane, extending from inside to outside. A
variety of proteins are scattered throughout the flexible matrix of phospholipid molecules,
somewhat like icebergs floating in the ocean, and this is termed the fluid mosaic model of
the cell membrane.
The phospholipid bilayer is selectively permeable. Only small, uncharged polar
molecules can pass freely across the membrane. Some of these molecules are H2O and
CO2, hydrophobic (nonpolar) molecules like O2, and lipid soluble molecules such as
hydrocarbons. Other molecules need the help of a membrane protein to get across. There
are a variety of membrane proteins that serve various functions:

Channel proteins: Proteins that provide passageways through the membranes for
certain hydrophilic or water-soluble substances such as polar and charged
molecules. No energy is used during transport, hence this type of movement is
called facilitated diffusion.

Transport proteins: Proteins that spend energy (ATP) to transfer materials across
the membrane. When energy is used to provide passageway for materials, the
process is called active transport.

Recognition proteins: Proteins that distinguish the identity of neighboring cells.

These proteins have oligosaccharide or short polysaccharide chains extending out
from their cell surface.

Adhesion proteins: Proteins that attach cells to neighboring cells or provide

anchors for the internal filaments and tubules that give stability to the cell.

Receptor proteins: Proteins that initiate specific cell responses once hormones or
other trigger molecules bind to them.

Electron transfer proteins: Proteins that are involved in moving electrons from
one molecule to another during chemical reactions.

[edit] Passive Transport Across the Cell Membrane

Passive transport describes the movement of substances down a concentration gradient
and does not require energy use.

Bulk flow is the collective movement of substances in the same direction in

response to a force, such as pressure. Blood moving through a vessel is an
example of bulk flow.

Simple diffusion, or diffusion, is the net movement of substances from an area of

higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. This movement occurs as
a result of the random and constant motion characteristic of all molecules, (atoms
or ions) and is independent from the motion of other molecules. Since, at any one
time, some molecules may be moving against the gradient and some molecules
may be moving down the gradient, although the motion is random, the word "net"
is used to indicate the overall, eventual end result of the movement.

Facilitated diffusion is the diffusion of solutes through channel proteins in the

plasma membrane. Water can pass freely through the plasma membrane without
the aid of specialized proteins (though facilitated by aquaporins).

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable

membrane. When water moves into a body by osmosis, hydrostatic pressure or
osmotic pressure may build up inside the body.

Dialysis is the diffusion of solutes across a selectively permeable membrane.

[edit] Active Transport Across the Cell Membrane

Active transport is the movement of solutes against a gradient and requires the
expenditure of energy, usually in the form of ATP. Active transport is achieved through
one of these two mechanisms:
[edit] Protein Pumps

Transport proteins in the plasma membrane transfer solutes such as small ions
(Na+, K+, Cl-, H+), amino acids, and monosaccharides.

The proteins involved with active transport are also known as ion pumps.

The protein binds to a molecule of the substance to be transported on one side of

the membrane, then it uses the released energy (ATP) to change its shape, and
releases it on the other side.

The protein pumps are specific, there is a different pump for each molecule to be
transported.

Protein pumps are catalysts in the splitting of ATP ADP + phosphate, so they
are called ATPase enzymes.

The sodium-potassium pump (also called the Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme)

actively moves sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell. These
pumps are found in the membrane of virtually every cell, and are essential
in transmission of nerve impulses and in muscular contractions.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that results in a mutated chloride ion channel. By not
regulating chloride secretion properly, water flow across the airway surface is reduced
and the mucus becomes dehydrated and thick.
[edit] Vesicular Transport

Vesicles or other bodies in the cytoplasm move macromolecules or large particles

across the plasma membrane. Types of vesicular transport include:

Exocytosis, which describes the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane
and releasing their contents to the outside of the cell. This process is common
when a cell produces substances for export.
Endocytosis, which describes the capture of a substance outside the cell when the
plasma membrane merges to engulf it. The substance subsequently enters the
cytoplasm enclosed in a vesicle.
There are three kinds of endocytosis:

Phagocytosis or cellular eating, occurs when the dissolved materials enter the
cell. The plasma membrane engulfs the solid material, forming a phagocytic
vesicle.

Pinocytosis or cellular drinking occurs when the plasma membrane folds

inward to form a channel allowing dissolved substances to enter the cell.
When the channel is closed, the liquid is encircled within a pinocytic vesicle.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis occurs when specific molecules in the fluid

surrounding the cell bind to specialized receptors in the plasma membrane. As
in pinocytosis, the plasma membrane folds inward and the formation of a
vesicle follows.

Note: Certain hormones are able to target specific cells by receptor-mediated

endocytosis.

[edit] Parts of the Cell

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[edit] Cytoplasm
The gel-like material within the cell membrane is referred to as the cytoplasm. It is a fluid
matrix, the cytosol, which consists of 80% to 90% water, salts, organic molecules and many
enzymes that catalyze reactions, along with dissolved substances such as proteins and
nutrients. The cytoplasm plays an important role in a cell, serving as a "molecular soup" in
which organelles are suspended and held together by a fatty membrane.
Within the plasma membrane of a cell, the cytoplasm surrounds the nuclear envelope and the
cytoplasmic organelles. It plays a mechanical role by moving around inside the membrane
and pushing against the cell membrane helping to maintain the shape and consistency of the
cell and again, to provide suspension to the organelles. It is also a storage space for chemical
substances indispensable to life, which are involved in vital metabolic reactions, such as
anaerobic glycolysis and protein synthesis.
The cell membrane keeps the cytoplasm from leaking out. It contains many different
organelles which are considered the insoluble constituents of the cytoplasm, such as the
mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxysomes, ribosomes, several vacuoles and cytoskeletons, as
well as complex cell membrane structures such as the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi
apparatus that each have specific functions within the cell.

Cytoskeleton

Threadlike proteins that make up the cytoskeleton continually reconstruct to adapt to the
cell's constantly changing needs. It helps cells maintain their shape and allows cells and

their contents to move. The cytoskeleton allows certain cells such as neutrophils and
macrophages to make amoeboid movements.
The network is composed of three elements: microtubules, actin filaments, and
intermediate fibers.

A 3-D reconstruction of intact microtubules.

Microtubules

Microtubules function as the framework along which organelles and vesicles move within
a cell. They are the thickest of the cytoskeleton structures. They are long hollow
cylinders, composed of protein subunits, called tubulin. Microtubules form mitotic
spindles, the machinery that partitions chromosomes between two cells in the process of
cell division. Without mitotic spindles cells could not reproduce.
Microtubules, intermediate filaments, and microfilaments are three protein fibers of
decreasing diameter, respectively. All are involved in establishing the shape or
movements of the cytoskeleton, the internal structure of the cell.

A photograph of microfilaments.

Microfilaments

Microfilaments provide mechanical support for the cell, determine the cell shape, and in
some cases enable cell movements. They have an arrow-like appearance, with a fast
growing plus or barbed end and a slow growing minus or pointed end. They are made of
the protein actin and are involved in cell motility. They are found in almost every cell, but
are predominant in muscle cells and in the cells that move by changing shape, such as
phagocytes (white blood cells that scour the body for bacteria and other foreign invaders).

[edit] Organelles
Organelles are bodies embedded in the cytoplasm that serve to physically separate the
various metabolic activities that occur within cells. The organelles are each like separate
little factories, each organelle is responsible for producing a certain product that is used
elsewhere in the cell or body.
Cells of all living things are divided into two broad categories: prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. Bacteria (and archea) are prokaryotes, which means they lack a nucleus or
other membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotes include all protozoans, fungi, plants, and
animals (including humans), and these cells are characterized by a nucleus (which houses
the chromosomes) as well as a variety of other organelles. Human cells vary considerably
(consider the differences between a bone cell, a blood cell, and a nerve cell), but most
cells have the features described below.

A comparison of Eukaryote and Prokaryote cells.

[edit] Nucleus
Controls the cell; houses the genetic material (DNA). The nucleus is the largest of the
cells organelles. Cells can have more than one nucleus or lack a nucleus all together.
Skeletal muscle cells contain more than one nucleus whereas red blood cells do not
contain a nucleus at all. The nucleus is bounded by the nuclear envelope, a phospholipid
bilayer similar to the plasma membrane. The space between these two layers is the
nucleolemma Cisterna.
The nucleus contains the DNA, as mentioned above, the hereditary information in the
cell. Normally the DNA is spread out within the nucleus as a threadlike matrix called
chromatin. When the cell begins to divide, the chromatin condenses into rod-shaped
bodies called chromosomes, each of which, before dividing, is made up of two long DNA
molecules and various histone molecules. The histones serve to organize the lengthy
DNA, coiling it into bundles called nucleosomes. Also visible within the nucleus are one
or more nucleoli, each consisting of DNA in the process of manufacturing the
components of ribosomes. Ribosomes are shipped to the cytoplasm where they assemble
amino acids into proteins. The nucleus also serves as the site for the separation of the
chromosomes during cell division.

A cross-sectional diagram of a cell.

Chromosomes

A rough sketch of a chromosome.

Inside each cell nucleus are chromosomes. Chromosomes are made up of chromatin,
which is made up of protein and deoxyribonucleic acid strands. Deoxyribonucleic acid is
DNA, the genetic material that is in the shape of a twisted ladder, also called the double
helix. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Down Syndrome and Cri du Chat
Syndrome result from having an abnormal number of chromosomes.
[edit] Centrioles
Centrioles are rod like structures composed of 9 bundles which contain three
microtubules each. Two perpendicularly placed centrioles surrounded by proteins make
up the centrosome. Centrioles are very important in cellular division, where they arrange
the mitotic spindles that pull the chromosome apart.
Centrioles and basal bodies act as microtubule organizing centers. A pair of centrioles
(enclosed in a centrosome) located outside the nuclear envelope gives rise to the
microtubules that make up the spindle apparatus used during cell division. Basal bodies
are at the base of each flagellum and cilium and appear to organize their development.

[edit] Ribosomes
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Ribosomes play an active role in the complex process of protein synthesis, where they
serve as the structures that facilitate the joining of amino acids. Each ribosome is
composed of a large and small subunit which are made up of ribosomal proteins and
ribosomal RNAs. They can either be found in groups called polyribosomes within the
cytoplasm or found alone. Occasionally they are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

A cutaway view inside a mitochondria.

[edit] Mitochondria
Mitochondria are the organelles that function as the cell "powerhouse", generating ATP,
the universal form of energy used by all cells. It converts food nutrients such as glucose,
to a fuel (ATP) that the cells of the body can use. Mitochondria are tiny sac-like
structures found near the nucleus. Little shelves called cristae are formed from folds in
the inner membrane. Cells that are metabolically active such as muscle, liver and kidney
cells have high energy requirements and therefore have more mitochondria.
Mitochondria are unique in that they have their own mitochondrial DNA (separate from
the DNA that is in the nucleus). It is believed that eukaryotes evolved from one cell living
inside another cell, and mitochondria share many traits with free-living bacteria (similar
chromosome, similar ribosomes, etc).
[edit] Endoplasmic Reticulum
Endoplasmic means "within the plasm" and reticulum means "network".
A complex three dimensional internal membrane system of flattened sheets, sacs and
tubes, that play an important role in making proteins and shuttling cellular products; also
involved in metabolisms of fats, and the production of various materials. In cross-section,
they appear as a series of maze-like channels, often closely associated with the nucleus.

When ribosomes are present, the rough ER attaches polysaccharide groups to the
polypeptides as they are assembled by the ribosomes. Smooth ER, without ribosomes, is
responsible for various activities, including the synthesis of lipids and hormones,
especially in cells that produce these substances for export from the cell.
Rough endoplasmic reticulum has characteristic bumpy appearance due to the multitude
of ribosomes coating it. It is the site where proteins not destined for the cytoplasm are
synthesized.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum provides a variety of functions, including lipid synthesis
and degradation, and calcium ion storage. In liver cells, the smooth ER is involved in the
breakdown of toxins, drugs, and toxic byproducts from cellular reactions.
[edit] Golgi Apparatus
"Packages" cellular products in sacs called vesicles so that the products can cross the cell
membrane and exit the cell. The Golgi apparatus is the central delivery system for the
cell. It is a group of flattened sacs arranged much like a stack of bowls. They function to
modify and package proteins and lipids into vesicles, small spherically shaped sacs that
bud from the ends of a Golgi apparatus. Vesicles often migrate to and merge with the
plasma membrane, releasing their contents outside the cell. The Golgi apparatus also
transports lipids and creates lysosomes and organelles involved in digestion.
[edit] Vacuoles
Spaces in the cytoplasm that sometimes serve to carry materials to the cell membrane for
discharge to the outside of the cell. Vacuoles are formed during endocytosis when
portions of the cell membrane are pinched off.
[edit] Lysosomes
Lysosomes are sac-like compartments that contain a number of powerful degradative
enzymes. They are built in the Golgi apparatus. They break down harmful cell products
and waste materials, cellular debris, and foreign invaders such as bacteria, and then force
them out of the cell. Tay-Sachs disease and Pompe's disease are just two of the
malfunctions of lysosomes or their digestive proteins.
[edit] Peroxisomes
Organelles in which oxygen is used to oxidize substances, breaking down lipids and
detoxifying certain chemicals. Peroxisomes self replicate by enlarging and then dividing.
They are common in liver and kidney cells that break down potentially harmful
substances. Peroxisomes can convert hydrogen peroxide, a toxin made of H2O2 to H2O.

[edit] Extracellular structures

Extracellular matrix

Human cells, like other animal cells, do not have a rigid cell wall. Human cells do have
an important and variable structure outside of their cell membrane called the extracellular
matrix. Sometimes this matrix can be extensive and solid (examples = calcified bone
matrix, cartilage matrix), while other times it consists of a layer of extracellular proteins
and carbohydrates. This matrix is responsible for cells binding to each other and is
incredibly important in how cells physically and physiologically interact with each other.

Flagella

Many prokaryotes have flagella, allowing, for example, an E. coli bacteria to propel its
way up the urethra to cause a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). Human cells, however (and
in fact most eukaryotic cells) lack flagella. This makes sense since humans are
multicellular, and individual cells do not need to swim around. The obvious exception to
this is with sperm, and indeed each sperm is propelled by a single flagellum. The
flagellum of sperm is composed of microtubules.

Cilia

Cilia are especially notable on the single-celled protozoans, where they beat in synchrony
to move the cells nimbly through the water. They are composed of extensions of the cell
membrane that contain microtubules. When present in humans they are typically found in
large numbers on a single surface of the cells, where rather than moving cells, they move
materials. The mucociliary escalator of the respiratory system consists of mucussecreting cells lining the trachea and bronchi, and ciliated epithelial cells that move the
mucus ever-upward. In this manner mold spores, bacteria, and debris are caught in the
mucus, removed from the trachea, and pushed into the esophagus (to be swallowed into a
pit of acid). In the oviducts cilia move the ovum from the ovary to the uterus, a journey
which takes a few days.

A magnified view of several cells, with visible cilia.

[edit] Cell Junctions

The plasma membranes of adjacent cells are usually separated by extracellular fluids that
allow transport of nutrients and wastes to and from the bloodstream. In certain tissues,
however, the membranes of adjacent cells may join and form a junction. Three kinds of
cell junctions are recognized:

Desmosomes are protein attachments between adjacent cells. Inside the plasma
membrane, a desmosome bears a disk shaped structure from which protein fibers
extend into the cytoplasm. Desmosomes act like spot welds to hold together
tissues that undergo considerable stress, such as our skin or heart muscle.

Tight junctions are tightly stitched seams between cells. The junction completely
encircles each cell, preventing the movement of material between the cell. Tight
junctions are characteristic of cells lining the digestive tract, where materials are
required to pass through cells,rather than intercellular spaces, to penetrate the
bloodstream.

Gap junctions are narrow tunnels that directly connect the cytoplasm of two
neighbouring cells, consisting of proteins called connexons. These proteins allow
only the passage of ions and small molecules. In this manner, gap junctions allow
communication between cells through the exchange of materials or the
transmission of electrical impulses.

[edit] Cell Metabolism

Cell metabolism is the total energy released and consumed by a cell. Metabolism
describes all of the chemical reactions that are happening in the body. Some reactions,
called anabolic reactions, create needed products. Other reactions, called catabolic
reactions, break down products. Your body is performing both anabolic and catabolic
reactions at the same time and around the clock, twenty four hours a day, to keep your
body alive and functioning. Even while you sleep, your cells are busy metabolizing.

Catabolism: The energy releasing process in which a chemical or food is used

(broken down) by degradation or decomposition, into smaller pieces.

Anabolism: Anabolism is just the opposite of catabolism. In this portion of

metabolism, the cell consumes energy to produce larger molecules via smaller
ones.

[edit] Energy Rich Molecules

[edit] Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Chemical diagram of an ATP molecule.

ATP is the currency of the cell. When the cell needs to use energy such as when it needs
to move substances across the cell membrane via the active transport system, it "pays"
with molecules of ATP. The total quantity of ATP in the human body at any one time is
about 0.1 Mole. The energy used by human cells requires the hydrolysis of 200 to 300
moles of ATP daily. This means that each ATP molecule is recycled 2000 to 3000 times
during a single day. ATP cannot be stored, hence its consumption must closely follow its
synthesis. On a per-hour basis, 1 kilogram of ATP is created, processed and then recycled
in the body. Looking at it another way, a single cell uses about 10 million ATP molecules

per second to meet its metabolic needs, and recycles all of its ATP molecules about every
20-30 seconds.
[edit] Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD)
When two hydrogen atoms are bonded, FAD is reduced to FADH2 and is turned into an
energy-carrying molecule. FAD accommodates two equivalents of Hydrogen; both the
hydride and the proton ions. This is used by organisms to carry out energy requiring
processes. FAD is reduced in the citric acid cycle during aerobic respiration
[edit] Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH)
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
phosphate (NADP) are two important cofactors found in cells. NADH is the reduced
form of NAD+, and NAD+ is the oxidized form of NADH. It forms NADP with the
addition of a phosphate group to the 2' position of the adenosyl nucleotide through an
ester linkage.
Space-filling model of NADHNAD is used extensively in glycolysis and the citric acid
cycle of cellular respiration. The reducing potential stored in NADH can be converted to
ATP through the electron transport chain or used for anabolic metabolism. ATP "energy"
is necessary for an organism to live. Green plants obtain ATP through photosynthesis,
while other organisms obtain it by cellular respiration.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+)NADP is used in anabolic
reactions, such as fat acid and nucleic acid synthesis, that require NADPH as a reducing
agent. In chloroplasts, NADP is an oxidising agent important in the preliminary reactions
of photosynthesis. The NADPH produced by photosynthesis is then used as reducing
power for the biosynthetic reactions in the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis.

Chemical diagram of an NADH molecule.

MH2 + NAD+ NADH + H+ + M: + energy, where M is a metabolite. Two hydrogen
ions (a hydride ion and an H+ ion) are transferred from the metabolite. One electron is
transferred to the positively-charged nitrogen, and one hydrogen attaches to the carbon
atom opposite to the nitrogen.
The change upon nicotinamide group when NAD+ is reduced The human body
synthesizes NAD from the vitamin niacin in the form of nicotinic acid or nicotinamide.
[edit] Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the energy releasing process by which sugar molecules are broken
down by a series of reactions and the chemical energy gets converted to energy stored in
ATP molecules. The reactions that convert the fuel (glucose) to usable energy (ATP) are
glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (sometimes called the citric acid cycle), and the electron

transport chain. Altogether these reactions are referred to as "cellular respiration" or

"aerobic respiration." Oxygen is needed as the final electron acceptor, and carrying out
cellular respiration is the very reason we breathe and the reason we eat.

Flowchart of cellular respiration.

[edit] Glycolysis
The glycolytic pathway (glycolysis) is where glucose, the smallest molecule that a
carbohydrate can be broken into during digestion, gets oxidized and broken into two 3carbon molecules (pyruvates), which are then fed into the Kreb's Cycle. Glycolysis is the
beginning of cellular respiration and takes place in the cytoplasm. Two molecules of ATP
are required for glycolysis, but four are produced so there is a net gain of two ATP per
glucose molecule. Two NADH molecules transfer electrons (in the form of hydrogen
ions) to the electron transport chain in the mitochondria, where they will be used to
generate additional ATP. During physical exertion when the mitochondria are already
producing the maximum ATP possible with the amount of oxygen available, glycolysis
can continue to produce an additional 2 ATP per glucose molecule without sending the
electrons to the mitochondria. However, during this anaerobic respiration lactic acid is
produced, which may accumulate and lead to temporary muscle cramping.

[edit] Krebs Cycle

The Krebs cycle was named after Sir Hans Krebs (1900-1981), who proposed the key
elements of this pathway in 1937 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for its
discovery in 1953.
Two molecules of pyruvate enter the Krebs cycle, which is called the aerobic pathway
because it requires the presence of oxygen in order to occur. This cycle is a major

biological pathway that occurs in humans and every plant and animal.
After glycolysis takes place in the cell's cytoplasm, the pyruvic acid molecules travel into
the interior of the mitochondrion. Once the pyruvic acid is inside, carbon dioxide is
enzymatically removed from each three-carbon pyruvic acid molecule to form acetic
acid. The enzyme then combines the acetic acid with an enzyme, coenzyme A, to produce
acetyl coenzyme A, also known as acetyl CoA.
Once acetyl CoA is formed, the Krebs cycle begins. The cycle is split into eight steps,
each of which will be explained below.

Step 1: The acetic acid subunit of acetyl CoA is combined with oxaloacetate to
form a molecule of citrate. The acetyl coenzyme A acts only as a transporter of
acetic acid from one enzyme to another. After Step 1, the coenzyme is released by
hydrolysis so that it may combine with another acetic acid molecule to begin the
Krebs cycle again.

Step 2: The citric acid molecule undergoes an isomerization. A hydroxyl group

and a hydrogen molecule are removed from the citrate structure in the form of
water. The two carbons form a double bond until the water molecule is added
back. Only now, the hydroxyl group and hydrogen molecule are reversed with
respect to the original structure of the citrate molecule. Thus, isocitrate is formed.

Step 3: In this step, the isocitrate molecule is oxidized by a NAD molecule. The
NAD molecule is reduced by the hydrogen atom and the hydroxyl group. The
NAD binds with a hydrogen atom and carries off the other hydrogen atom leaving
a carbonyl group. This structure is very unstable, so a molecule of CO2 is released
creating alpha-ketoglutarate.

Step 4: In this step, our friend, coenzyme A, returns to oxidize the alphaketoglutarate molecule. A molecule of NAD is reduced again to form NADH and
leaves with another hydrogen. This instability causes a carbonyl group to be
released as carbon dioxide and a thioester bond is formed in its place between the
former alpha-ketoglutarate and coenzyme A to create a molecule of succinylcoenzyme A complex.

Step 5: A water molecule sheds its hydrogen atoms to coenzyme A. Then, a freefloating phosphate group displaces coenzyme A and forms a bond with the
succinyl complex. The phosphate is then transferred to a molecule of GDP to
produce an energy molecule of GTP. It leaves behind a molecule of succinate.

Step 6: In this step, succinate is oxidized by a molecule of FAD (Flavin adenine

dinucleotide). The FAD removes two hydrogen atoms from the succinate and
forces a double bond to form between the two carbon atoms, thus creating
fumarate.

Step 7: An enzyme adds water to the fumarate molecule to form malate. The
malate is created by adding one hydrogen atom to a carbon atom and then adding
a hydroxyl group to a carbon next to a terminal carbonyl group.

Step 8: In this final step, the malate molecule is oxidized by a NAD molecule. The
carbon that carried the hydroxyl group is now converted into a carbonyl group.

The end product is oxaloacetate which can then combine with acetyl-coenzyme A
and begin the Krebs cycle all over again.

Summary: In summary, three major events occur during the Krebs cycle. One
GTP (guanosine triphosphate) is produced which eventually donates a phosphate
group to ADP to form one ATP; three molecules of NAD are reduced; and one
molecule of FAD is reduced. Although one molecule of GTP leads to the
production of one ATP, the production of the reduced NAD and FAD are far more
significant in the cell's energy-generating process. This is because NADH and
FADH2 donate their electrons to an electron transport system that generates large
amounts of energy by forming many molecules of ATP.

To see a visual summary of "Kreb Cycle" please click here.

[edit] Electron Transport System

The most complicated system of all. In the respiration chain, oxidation and reduction
reactions occur repeatedly as a way of transporting energy. The respiratory chain is also
called the electron transport chain. At the end of the chain, oxygen accepts the electron
and water is produced.
[edit] Redox Reaction
This is a simultaneous oxidation-reduction process whereby cellular metabolism occurs,
such as the oxidation of sugar in the human body, through a series of very complex
electron transfer processes.
The chemical way to look at redox processes is that the substance being oxidized
transfers electrons to the substance being reduced. Thus, in the reaction, the substance
being oxidized (aka. the reducing agent) loses electrons, while the substance being
reduced (aka. the oxidizing agent) gains electrons. Remember: LEO (Losing Electrons is
Oxidation) the lion says GER (Gaining Electrons is Reduction); or alternatively: OIL
(Oxidation is Loss) RIG (Reduction is Gain).
The term redox state is often used to describe the balance of NAD+/NADH and
NADP+/NADPH in a biological system such as a cell or organ. The redox state is
reflected in the balance of several sets of metabolites (e.g., lactate and pyruvate, hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate) whose interconversion is dependent on these ratios.
An abnormal redox state can develop in a variety of deleterious situations, such as
hypoxia, shock, and sepsis.

[edit] Cell Building Blocks

What major classes of molecules are found within cells?

[edit] Lipids
The term is more-specifically used to refer to fatty-acids and their derivatives (including
tri-, di-, and mono-glycerides and phospholipids) as well as other fat-soluble sterolcontaining metabolites such as cholesterol. Lipids serve many functions in living
organisms including energy storage, serve as structural components of cell membranes,
and constitute important signaling molecules. Although the term lipid is sometimes used
as a synonym for fat, the latter is in fact a subgroup of lipids called triglycerides and

should not be confused with the term fatty acid.

[edit] Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate molecules consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They have a general
formula Cn(H2O)n. There are several sub-families based on molecular size.
Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon
atoms, and no other elements. They consist of monosaccharide sugars of varying chain
lengths.
Certain carbohydrates are an important storage and transport form of energy in most
organisms, including plants and animals. Carbohydrates are classified by their number of
sugar units: monosaccharides (such as glucose and fructose), disaccharides (such as
sucrose and lactose), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides (such as starch, glycogen,
and cellulose).
The simplest carbohydrates are monosaccharides, which are small straight-chain
aldehydes and ketones with many hydroxyl groups added, usually one on each carbon
except the functional group. Other carbohydrates are composed of monosaccharide units
and break down under hydrolysis. These may be classified as disaccharides,
oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides, depending on whether they have two, several, or
many monosaccharide units.

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[edit] Proteins
All proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Some also contain
phosphorus and sulfur. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids. There are 20
different kinds of amino acids used by the human body. They unite by peptide bonds to
form long molecules called polypeptides. Polypeptides are assembled into proteins.
Proteins have four levels of structure

Primary

Primary structure is the sequence of amino acids bonded in the polypeptide.

Secondary

The secondary structure is formed by hydrogen bonds between amino acids. The
polypeptide can coil into a helix or form a pleated sheet.

Tertiary

The tertiary structure refers to the three-dimensional folding of the helix or pleated sheet.

Quaternary

The quaternary structure refers to the spatial relationship among the polypeptide in the
protein.

[edit] Enzymes
A biological molecule that catalyzes a chemical reaction. Enzymes are essential for life
because most chemical reactions in living cells would occur too slowly or would lead to
different products without enzymes. Most enzymes are proteins and the word "enzyme" is
often used to mean a protein enzyme. Some RNA molecules also have a catalytic activity,
and to differentiate them from protein enzymes, they are referred to as RNA enzymes or
ribozymes.

[edit] Review Questions

Answers for these questions can be found here
1. List 2 functions of the cell membrane:
Questions 2 - 6 Match the following organelles with their function: 2. Mitochondria 3.
Vacuoles 4. Cilia 5. Smooth ER 6. Golgi Apparatus
A. Movement of the cell
B. Lipid synthesis and transport
C. "Powerhouse" of the cell, makes ATP
D. Storage areas, mainly found in plant cells
E. Packages and distributes cellular products
7. The diffusion of H2O across a semi permeable or selectively permeable membrane is
termed
A. Active transport
B. Diffusion
C. Osmosis
D. Endocytosis
8. Oxygen enters a cell via?
a. Diffusion
b. Filtration
c. Osmosis
d. Active transport
9. The term used to describe, "cell eating" is?
a. Exocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Pinocytosis
d. Diffusion

10. Which of the following requires energy?

a. Diffusion
b. Osmosis
c. Active transport
d. Facilitated diffusion
11. Protein synthesis occurs at the
a. Mitochondria
b. Lysosomes
c. Within the nucleus
d. Ribosomes
12. Which of the following is not found in the cell membrane?
a. Cholesterol
b. Phospholipids
c. Proteins
d. Galactose
e. Nucleic acids
13. What is a cell?
a. The largest living units within our bodies.
b. Enzymes that "eat" bacteria
c. Microscopic fundamental units of all living things.
d. All of the above.

[edit] Glossary
Active Transport: the movement of solutes against a gradient and requires the
expenditure of energy
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): a cells source of energy
Bulk Flow: the collective movement of substances in the same direction in response to a
force
Cells: the microscopic fundamental unit that makes up all living things
Cell Membrane: boundary of the cell, sometimes called the plasma membrane
Cytoplasm: a water-like substance that fills cells. The cytoplasm consists of cytosol and
the cellular organelles, except the cell nucleus. The cytosol is made up of water, salts,
organic molecules and many enzymes that catalyze reactions. The cytoplasm holds all of
the cellular organelles outside of the nucleus, maintains the shape and consistency of the
cell, and serves as a storage place for chemical substances.
Cytoskeleton: made of threadlike proteins, helps cells maintain their shape and allows
cells and their contents to move

Dialysis: the diffusion of solutes across a selectively permeable membrane. Most

commonly heard of when a patient has had renal failure. In medicine, dialysis is a type of
renal replacement therapy which is used to provide an artificial replacement for lost
kidney function due to renal failure. It is a life support treatment and does not treat any
kidney diseases.
Endocrine cells: similar to exocrine cells, but secrete their products directly into the
bloodstream instead of through a duct
Endocytosis: the capture of a substance outside the cell when the plasma membrane
merges to engulf it
Endoplasmic Reticulum: organelle that play an important role in making proteins and
shuttling cellular products; also involved in metabolisms of fats, and the production of
various materials
Epithelial Cells: cells that aid in secretion, absorption, protection, trans-cellular
transport, sensation detection, and selective permeability
Exocrine Cells: cells that secrete products through ducts, such as mucus, sweat, or
digestive enzymes
Exocytosis: the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane and releasing their
contents to the outside of the cell
Facilitated Diffusion: the diffusion of solutes through channel proteins in the plasma
membrane
Golgi Apparatus: "packages" cellular products in sacs called vesicles so that the
products can cross the cell membrane and exit the cell
Glycolysis: process in which sugars (glucose) are converted to acid
Lysosomes: sac-like compartments that contain a number of powerful degradative
enzymes
Microfilaments: provide mechanical support for the cell, determine the cell shape, and in
some cases enable cell movements
Microtubules: function as the framework along which organelles and vesicles move
within a cell
Mitochondria: the organelles that function as the cell "powerhouse", generating ATP
Nucleus: controls the cell; houses the genetic material
Organelles: bodies embedded in the cytoplasm that serve to physically separate the
various metabolic activities that occur within cells
Osmosis: the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane
from an area of high solute concentration to an area of low solute concentration.
Passive Transport: the movement of substances down a concentration gradient and does
not require energy use
Peroxisomes: organelles in which oxygen is used to oxidize substances, breaking down
lipids and detoxifying certain chemicals
Phagocytosis: a form of endocytosis wherein large particles are enveloped by the cell

membrane of a (usually larger) cell and internalized to form a phagosome, or "food

vacuole." In animals, phagocytosis is performed by specialized cells called phagocytes,
which serve to remove foreign bodies and thus fight infection. In vertebrates, these
include larger macrophages and smaller granulocytes, types of blood cells. Bacteria, dead
tissue cells, and small mineral particles are all examples of objects that may be
phagocytosed.
Pinocytosis: also called cellular drinking, is a form of endocytosis, a process in which
small particles are taken in by a cell by splitting into smaller particles. The particles then
form small vesicles which subsequently fuse with lysosomes to hydrolyze, or to break
down, the particles. This process requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis: occurs when specific molecules in the fluid
surrounding the cell bind to specialized receptors in the plasma membrane
Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes): cells that collect oxygen in the lungs and deliver it
through the blood to the body tissues
Ribosomes: play an active role in the complex process of protein synthesis, where they
serve as the structures that facilitate the joining of amino acids
Simple Diffusion: the net movement of substances from an area of higher concentration
to an area of lower concentration
Vacuoles: spaces in the cytoplasm that sometimes serve to carry materials to the cell
membrane for discharge to the outside of the cell
White Blood Cells (leukocytes): produced in the bone marrow and help the body to fight
infectious disease and foreign objects in the immune system