Unit 1 BIOCHEMISTRY in the CELL

What is BIOCHEMISTRY?
• It is a multidisciplinary science that explores the chemistry
of living organisms and the molecular basis for the
changes occurring in living cells.

• Basic principles of biochemistry are common to all

living organisms.

• The knowledge of biochemistry can be applied to solve

problems in medicine, agriculture, environmental
sciences, etc.
 Biochemical Features of Living Organisms
• Cells are the basic structural and functional
units of all living organisms. It is highly
organized; a constant energy source is
required to maintain a cell’s ordered state.

• Living processes consist of thousands of

chemical reactions; precise regulation and
integration of these reactions are required to
maintain life.
• Certain biochemical reaction pathways, i.e.
glycolysis and Krebs cycle, are found in almost all
organisms.
Biochemical Features
of Living Organisms
ALL ORGANISMS use the same
type of (bio)molecules.
• Proteins
• Nucleic acids
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
Biochemical Features
of Living Organisms
• The instructions for growth,
development, and reproduction
are encoded in each
organism’s nucleic acid.
Cell: Functional & Structural Unit of Life
Types of Cells
• Prokaryote: “before the nucleus”
• single-celled organisms
• include bacteria and cyanobacteria

• Eukaryote: “true nucleus”

• contain a well-defined nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane
• can be single celled, such as yeasts and Paramecium, or multicellular,
such as animals and plants
Comparison of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotic Cell
• Prokaryotes are considered as
ancestor of eukaryotic cell.
• They are unicellular.
• There are two major divisions of
prokaryotes: Archaebacteria (ancient
class) and Eubacteria (true bacteria).
• Escherichia coli is the most studied
prokaryote.
 Prokaryotic Cell:
Structure and Function
• There are 2 definite membranes in a
bacterial cell: the cell wall and the plasma
membrane.
• Interior of the cell consists of cytoplasm
and nucleoid region.
• Ribosomes, various RNAs, proteins
(including enzymes) and small molecules
(i.e. water) filled the cytoplasm.
• A bacterial chromosome is a single circular
molecule of naked DNA.
• Hair-like projections (flagella and/or
pili)are also present.
Eukaryotic Cell
• Structurally more complex
• Presence of nucleus
• Possess a number of separate
chromosomes
• Filled with diverse structures
• Membrane-bound organelles
• Cytoplasmic membranes
• Other structures that lack
surrounding membranes

Eukaryotic cell structure: Epithelial cell

from the male rat reproductive tract
Eukaryotic Cell:
Structure and Function
• Cell membrane
• Cytoplasm
• Organelles
• Cytoskeletal elements
• Cytosol

Eukaryotic cell structure: Epithelial cell

from the male rat reproductive tract
 Cell Membrane: Structure and Function
• It is a thin film of lipid and protein
molecules held together by
noncovalent interactions.
• Functions:
• Define and compartmentalize the cell
• Serve as scaffold for biochemical
activities
• Provide selectively permeable barrier
• Provide means of transporting solutes
• . Play a role in cell-to-cell
communication and detection of
external signals
Nucleus:
Structure and Function
• It is the principal feature that
distinguishes eukaryotic from
prokaryotic cells.
• It serves both as repository of genetic
information and as the cell’s control
center.
• Processes involved: DNA replication,
transcription and RNA processing
Mitochondrion:
Structure and Function
• It plays a critical role in the generation
of useful energy derived from the
breakdown of lipids and
carbohydrates.
• It contains their own DNA encoding
for tRNA, rRNA and some
mitochondrial proteins.
• Most mitochondrial proteins are
synthesized on free ribosomes.
Chloroplast:
Structure and Function
• Can harness solar energy to
convert CO2 & H2O into
carbohydrates; photosynthetic
generation of ATP.
• They synthesize their own amino
acids, fatty acids and lipid
components of their own
membranes.
• Reduction of NO2— to NH3 also
occurs in chloroplast
Endoplasmic Reticulum: Structure and Function
• It is a network of membrane-enclosed tubules and sacs that
extends from the nuclear membrane throughout the cytoplasm.
• It is the largest organelle in the cell.
• Two types: Rough and Smooth ER
Endoplasmic Reticulum: Structure and Function
• Rough ER
• Consists of flattened sheets that is continuous to the outer nuclear
membrane.
• Characterized by the presence of ribosomes on the cytosolic side of
the membrane.

• Smooth ER
• It is tubular in shape.
• It is involve in lipid metabolism.
• It is involve in several cellular processes: drug detoxification,
carbohydrate metabolism and synthesis of neutral fats,
phospholipids and steroids.
Golgi Complex:
Structure and Function
• It consists of a series of flattened,
membranous sacs (cisternae) involved
in modifying, sorting and packaging of
macromolecules for secretion or for
export to other organelles.

• It is form by fusion of vesicles that

bud off the ER.
Lysosome:
Structure and Function
• It is a membrane-enclosed
organelle that functions to
degrade materials taken into the
cell and to digest worn out or
unnecessary cell components.

• It contains about 50 different

hydrolytic enzymes that can
breakdown macromolecules.
Peroxisome:
Structure and Function
• It is a small, membrane-enclosed
organelles that contain enzymes in
variety of metabolic reactions.
• Production and decomposition of H2O2
• Oxidative reactions of uric acid, amino
acids and fatty acids.
• Synthesis of cholesterol, dolichol and
bile acids in specialized cells
• In plants, glyoxylate cycle and
photorespiration occurs.
Cytoskeleton:
Structure and Function
• It is a complex networks of protein
filaments extending throughout the
cytoplasm
• It determines cell’s shape and internal
organization; responsible for the movement
of the cell.
• Three principal types of cytoskeleton:
• Microfilaments
• Intermediate filaments
• Microtubules
 Centrosome and Vacuole
CENTROSOME
• It is also called the microtubule organizing center.
• Its function is to aid cellular division.

VACUOLE
• It functions as storage depots for
nutrients, wastes, and specialized
materials such as pigments.
Summary of Organelles and their Function(s)