WEEK 2 • Unsaturated: there is at least one double or
INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY triple bond between carbons present
• Solid at room temperature
BIOCHEMISTRY • Mainly plant-based fats (olive oil, peanut
Study of the chemical processes within and relating oil) as well as oily fish (tuna, sardines)
to a living organism.
PROTEINS
PRINCIPLE CLASSES OF • Transport molecules in and out of the cell
BIOMOLECULES: • Control the speed of chemical reactions
Carbohydrates • Used for growth and repair
Proteins • Elements: C-H-O-N
Lipids • Monomer (Building block): amino acids
Nucleic acid (20 different ones)
• Polymer: proteins
CARBOHYDRATES
• Most common organic molecule
• Function: Primary energy source our body
needs
• Elements present:
• monomers (building block)
• Monosaccharides
• Polymer: Polysaccharides (starch,
glycogen, cellulose, chitin)
• Example: chocolate, bread, pasta, fruits,
vegetables
• Example of proteins: hemoglobin in red
SUGARS blood cells, albumin in eggs, enzymes that
• Single sugar: monosaccharide control reactions in the body and
• Ex: glucose, fructose antibodies
• 2 monosaccharides: disaccharide • Found in fish, eggs, meat
• Ex: maltose, sucrose
• 3+ monosaccharides: polysaccharide NUCLEIC ACID
Ex: starch, glycogen, cellulose & chitin • Function: provide our genetic information
• Holds the instructions to make proteins
LIPIDS • Elements: C-H-O-N-P
• Function: Storage energy, insulates the • Monomer: nucleotides
body, and makes up the cell membrane • A nucleotide is made up of
• Elements: • Sugar
• Monomer (Building block): glycerol and 3 • Phosphate
FA • Nitrogen base: A, T, G, C or
• Polymer: Phospholipids, triglyceride U
• Example: steroids, cholesterol, fats, oils, • Polymer: DNA, RNA and ATP
nuts, waxes and make up part of the cell
membrane CELL
• They are hydrophobic (water-fearing) and • Biochemistry explores molecular
do not dissolve in water mechanisms of normal cellular processes
• Saturated: the bonds between all the as well as diseases.
carbons are single bonds • All higher living organisms including
• liquid at room temperature humans are made up of cells.
• Mainly animal fats (bacon grease, lard)
Two major classes: • Structure: This can be seen between the
• Prokaryotes plasma membrane and the nucleus where the
• Eukaryotes other cellular elements are embedded.
• Organelles are membrane-bound structures
HISTORICAL NOTES that carry out specific cell metabolic
• Robert Hooke was the first person to use activities.
the term “cell”. He referred to the small • Cytosol provides support for organelles and
empty chambers in the structure of cork serves as the viscous fluid medium.
as cells. • Function: It is responsible for various
• Matthias Schleiden and Theodor cellular processes.
Schwann concluded that all plant and
animal tissues were composed of cells. NUCLEUS
• Rudolf Virchow proposed the theory of • Structure: It is enclosed within a double
biogenesis where cells only arise from membrane called a nuclear envelope;
pre-existing cells. contains nucleolus
• Nucleolus: It consists of RNA and proteins
Cell Theory which function in ribosomal unit assembly.
• A cell is living organisms' basic structural • Nucleoplasm: It surrounds the chromatin and
and functional unit. So, when you define the nucleoli.
cell properties, you are defining life's • Function: It contains the DNA that serves as
properties. the genetic material for directing protein
• The activity of an organism depends on synthesis.
the collective activities of its cells.
• According to the principle of PLASMA MEMBRANE
complementarity, the activities of cells • Structure: Phospholipid bilayer containing
are dictated by their structure (anatomy), cholesterol and proteins and some
which determines function (physiology). carbohydrates; forms a selectively permeable
boundary of the cell.
MOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF THE • Functions: Acts as a physical barrier to
CELL enclose cell contents; regulates material
• Water accounts for about 70-75% of the movement into and out of the cell; functions
weight of the cell. in cell communication
• Organic compounds accounts for 25-30%
of the cell weight. MITOCHONDRIA
• They are nucleic acids, proteins, • Structure: Double-membrane-bound
polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and lipids. organelles containing a circular strand of
Proteins accounts 10-20% of the weight of DNA
the cell. • Outer membrane is highly permeable to small
molecules, due to the presence of a pore-
Inorganic compounds account for the rest of the forming protein called porin.
cell weight. • Intermembrane contains many proteins that
participate in oxidative phosphorylation.
EUKARYOTIC CELL • Inner membrane has multiple folds projecting
Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus inwards, called cristae.
and a number of other membrane-bound • Function: It is responsible for the production
subcellular (internal) organelles, each of which has of energy in the form of ATP.
a specific function.
GOLGI APPARATUS
PARTS AND FUNCTION OF THE CELL • Structure: Series of several elongated,
flattened saclike membranous structures.
CYTOPLASM
• Functions: Modifies, packages, and sorts
materials, that arrive from the endoplasmic
reticulum in transport vesicles IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PROKARYOTIC
⚬ Vesicles transport cellular material. CELLS
Mature vesicles are called secretory • Prokaryotes (Eubacteria and
vesicles. Archaebacteria) are the most abundant
organisms on earth.
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM • A prokaryotic cell does not contain a
⚬ Rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound nucleus.
• Each prokaryotic cell is surrounded by a
￭ Structure: Extensive interconnected
plasma membrane.
membrane network that varies in shape;
• The cell has no subcellular organelles, only
ribosomes attached on the cytoplasmic
infoldings of the plasma membrane called
surfaces
mesosomes.
• Ribosomes are involved in the
• The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is
protein synthesis.
condensed within the cytosol to form the
￭ Functions: Modifies, transports, and nucleoid.
stores proteins produces by attached • Some prokaryotes have tail-like flagella.
ribosomes
⚬ Smooth endoplasmic reticulum CELL MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
Structure: Extensive interconnected membrane
network lacking ribosome. • Passive Transport Process
• Diffusion is the movement of a substance
LYSOSOME from an area of its higher concentration to an
• Structure: Spherical shaped membrane- area of its lower concentration.
bound organelles formed from the golgi ⚬ Simple diffusion is the type of diffusion
apparatus; contain digestive enzymes of dissolved solutes through the plasma
• The fluid inside lysosomes is much more membrane
acidic, at about pH 4.8, than the normal pH of ⚬ Facilitated Diffusion is the type of
about 7.0–7.3. diffusion that requires a protein carrier.
• Function: Digest microbes or materials by the
⚬ Osmosis is the diffusion of water point
cell
across a selectively permeable
membrane.
PEROXISOMES
• Active Transport Process
• Structure: similar to the lysosome • Diffusion is the movement of a substance
• Function: it contains enzymes involved in the from an area of its higher concentration to an
metabolism of hydrogen peroxide area of its lower concentration.
⚬ This type of cell membrane transport
CYTOSKELETON
uses energy (ATP) provided by the cell.
• Structure: Organized network of protein
filaments ⚬ For example, the cell has low
• Function: Maintains integral structural intracellular sodium; but the
support and organization of cells concentration of potassium inside the
cell is very high. This is maintained by
• Microfilaments maintain cell shape.
the sodium–potassium activated
• Intermediate filaments give mechanical
ATPase, generally called a sodium
support to structures like the nucleus and
plasma membrane. pump.
• Microtubules provides structural support. ⚬ Exocytosis refers to the bulk movement
of substance out of the cell by the fusion
of secretory vesicles with the plasma
membrane.
⚬ Endocytosis refers to bulk movement of
substance into the cells by vesicles
forming at the plasma membrane.
CELL LIFE CYCLE
• Interphase
⚬ It is the longer phase of the cell cycle where
the cell is active and preparing for cell
division.
⚬ The DNA molecule is duplicated exactly in
a process called DNA replication which
occurs toward the end of the interphase.
• Cell Division
⚬ Cells arise from the division of other cells.
⚬ Mitosis consists of four stages-prophase,
metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The
result is two daughter nuclei, each identical
to the mother nucleus.
• Prophase- each chromosome consists of
two chromatids joined at the centromere.
• Metaphase- chromosomes align at the
center of the cell
• Anaphase- chromatids separate at the
centromere and migrate to opposite
poles.
• Telophase- two new nuclei assume their
normal structure, and cell division is
completed, producing two new daughter
cells.
