BIOCHEMISTRY
or more cells.
LESSON 1 CELL
CELL
● The basic unit of life is responsible for
all life's processes.
● Biochemistry explores molecular
mechanisms of normal cellular
processes as well as diseases.
● All higher living organisms including
humans are made up of cells.
TWO MAJOR CLASSES
● EUKARYOTES - contain membrane
bound organelles including a PROKARYOTIC CELL
NUCLEUS. examples: plant cells,
fungi, insects, and humans.
● PROKARYOTES - DO NOT / DOES
NOT contain a nucleus or any other
membrane bound organelles.
example: bacteria
HISTORICAL NOTES
● Robert Hooke was the first person to
use the term “cell”. He referred to the
small empty chambers in the
structure of cork as cells.
● Matthias Schleiden and Theodor
Schwann concluded that all plant and
animal tissues were composed of
cells.
● Rudolf Virchow proposed the theory
of biogenesis where cells only arise
from pre-existing cells.
BIOGENESIS is a production of a new living
organisms and this BIOGENESIS THEORY is
that living things can only come from another
or other living things.
CELL THEORY
● A cell is the basic structural and
functional unit of living organisms.
● The activity of an organism depends
on the collective activities of its
cells.
● According to the principle of
complementarity, the activities of cells
are dictated by their structure
(anatomy), which determines
function (physiology).
● All living things are composed of one
● The CELL is the life and the new cell
arises from existing cells.
EUKARYOTIC CELL
● DNA / Deoxyribonucleic acid
● DNA is found in the nucleus of the cell.
● Contain membrane-bound organelles
which include mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi
complex
● Cell division involves mitosis.
● DNA is not enclosed within the
membrane.
● Lack membrane enclosed organelles
● Usually divided by binary fission.
MOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF CELL
● Water accounts for about 70-75% of
the weight of the cell.
● Organic compounds account for
25-30% of the cell weight.
● They are nucleic acids, proteins,
polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and
lipids.
● Polysaccharides / sugar 2% , lipids /
fatty acids 2% and proteins / amino
acids 15%
● Inorganic compounds account for
the rest of the cell weight. vitamins
and minerals
EUKARYOTIC CELL
● Eukaryotic cells have a
membrane-bound nucleus and a
number of other membrane-bound
subcellular (internal) organelles,
each of which has a specific function.
● Eukaryotic cells are the cells that
contain a nucleus and its organelles
that are enclosed by a plasma
membrane or cell membrane.
● Organisms that have eukaryotic cells
include protozoa, fungi, plants and
animals and these organisms are
grouped into the biological domain of
EUKARYOTA.
PLASMA MEMBRANE
 ● Structure: Phospholipid bilayer
containing cholesterol and proteins
and some carbohydrates; forms a
selectively permeable boundary of
the cell.
● PERMEABLE surface allows
materials like liquids to pass
through or either it is into the
cell or out to the cell.
● Functions: Acts as a physical barrier
to enclose cell contents; regulates
material movement into and out of the
cell; functions in cell communication.
● always remember that
plasma or cell membrane
supports and protects the
cell so it is present in all
cells and it is outer covering
within which all other
organelles such as
cytoplasm and nucleus are
enclosed.
NUCLEUS
● Structure: It is enclosed within a
double membrane called nuclear
envelope; contains nucleolus
● RNA / Ribonucleic acid
● Nucleolus: It consists of RNA
and proteins which function
in ribosomal unit assembly.
● Nucleoplasm: It surrounds
the chromatin and the
nucleoli.
● Function: It contains the DNA that
serves as the genetic material for
directing protein synthesis.
● NUCLEUS it is a membrane
bound structure that houses it
contains the DNA which is
complex with protein into thin
fibers just contains heredity
material or genetic material of
the cell. The DNA and it also
contains proteins, nucleus
also sends signals to the cell
to grow divide and also to
mature and die.
CYTOPLASM
● Structure: This can be seen between
the plasma membrane and the
nucleus where the other cellular
elements are embedded.
● Organelles are membrane
bound structures which carry
out specific metabolic
activities of the cell.
● Cytosol provides support for
organelles and serves as the
viscous fluid medium. A
structure cytoplasm is a thick
clear jelly-like substance
present inside the cell
membrane.
● Function: It is responsible for various
cellular processes.
MITOCHONDRIA
● Structure: Double-membrane-bound
organelles containing a circular strand
of DNA
● Outer membrane is highly
permeable to small molecules,
due to the presence of a
pore-forming protein called
porin.
● Intermembrane contains
many proteins that participate
in oxidative phosphorylation.
● Inner membrane has multiple
folds projecting inwards,
called cristae.
● Function: It is responsible for the
production of energy in the form of
ATP. Adenosine triphosphate
● Always remember
mitochondria provides
energy by breaking down
nutrients from the foods we
eat. Then the energy
liberated from food that is
captured and stored in the
bonds present in a molecule
called ATP
LYSOSOMES
● Also known as cell garbage disposal.
● Structure: Spherical shaped
membrane bound organelles formed
from the golgi apparatus; contain
digestive enzymes
● The fluid inside lysosomes
is much more acidic, at about
 pH 4.8, than the normal pH ● Structure: Series of several
of about 7.0–7.3. elongated, flattened saclike
● Function: Digest microbes or membranous structures.
materials by the cell. Animal cells ● Functions: Modifies, packages, and
have another set of organelles not sorts materials, that arrive from the
found in plant cells which is endoplasmic reticulum in transport
lysosomes. vesicles
● Vesicles transport cellular
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM material. Mature vesicles are
It is further subdivided into: called secretory vesicles.
● Rough endoplasmic reticulum ● GOLGI APPARATUS it
● Structure: Extensive modifies, sorts, tags,
interconnected membrane packages and distributes
network that varies in shape; lipids and proteins
ribosomes attached on the ● We CANNOT seen in the
cytoplasmic surfaces PROKARYOTIC CELL
● Ribosomes are
involved in the protein PEROXISOMES
synthesis. ● Structure: smaller, spherical
● RIBOSOMES are the membrane bound organelles formed
sites of protein from the endoplasmic reticulum.
synthesis that is ● Functions: Detoxify specific harmful
guided by the substances either produced by the cell
information contained or taken into the cell
in the messenger ● PEROXISOME oxidizes and
RNA or MRNA. breakdowns the fatty acids,
● Functions: Modifies, amino acids and detoxifies
transports, and stores proteins poisons. It is not seen in
produced by attached prokaryotic cells but it can
ribosomes be found in animal cells and
plant cells or the
● Smooth endoplasmic reticulum EUKARYOTIC CELL.
● Structure: Extensive
interconnected membrane CYTOSKELETON
network lacking ribosomes ● Structure: Organized network of
● ER it is involved in protein filaments
transportation among the ● Function: Maintains integral structural
substances throughout our support and organization of cells
cell and also it places a ● Microfilaments maintain cell
primary role in the metabolism shape. Long thin rods
of carbohydrates, synthesis of composed of many molecules
lipids steroids and proteins. of protein actin. They are solid
● It can also appear in places and narrower than
where it serves as a site for microtubules and they enable
synthesis of fatty acids and cells to withstand stretching
phospholipids in other places and compression. They help
that appear in the rough anchor one cell to another.
endoplasmic reticulum. ● Intermediate filaments give
mechanical support to
GOLGI APPARATUS structures like nucleus and
plasma membrane. They have
a diameter intermediate
 between those of microtubules
and microfilaments. They are
abundant in skin and nerve
cells. In actively divided in skin
cells it forms a strong inner
framework that firmly
attaches cells to each other
and to underlying tissue.
● Microtubules provide
structural support. They are
long and hollow. It provides
many cellular movements; it is
composed of a pair of proteins
called TUBULIN. They form
the celia which are hair like
structures.
● Maintaining cell shape it
secures the organelles in
specific positions; it allows
cytoplasm and vesicles to
move within the cell and
those unicellular organisms to
move independently. Mesh
work or network of the protein
rods and tubules that molds.
The distinctive structures of
cell positioning organelles and
providing a three dimensional
shape. FOUNDATION
IMPORTANT NOTES IN PROKARYOTIC
CELL
1. Prokaryotes (Eubacteria and
Archaebacteria) are the most
abundant organisms on earth.
2. A prokaryotic cell does not contain a
membrane-bound nucleus.
NUCLEOID
3. Each prokaryotic cell is surrounded by
a plasma membrane.
4. The cell has no subcellular
organelles, only infoldings of the
plasma membrane called
mesosomes.
5. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is
condensed within the cytosol to form
the nucleoid.
6. Some prokaryotes have tail-like
flagella.
PROKARYOTES is a single cell organism with
neither membrane bound nucleus nor other
lipid membrane bound organelles so they are
composed of two phylogenetically distinct
groups organisms which are the eubacteria
and archaebacteria.
CELL MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
PASSIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS
● Diffusion is the movement of a
substance from an area of its higher
concentration to an area of its lower
concentration.
● Simple diffusion is the type of
diffusion of dissolved solutes through
the plasma membrane, lipophilic,
oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is a
movement of small or lipophilic
molecules. ex. oxygen and carbon
dioxide
● Facilitated Diffusion is the type of
diffusion that requires a protein carrier.
The movement of large or charged
molecules by a membrane protein.
ex. Ions and sucrose
● Osmosis is the diffusion of water
points across a selectively permeable
membrane. The movement of water
molecules but it depend on the
solutes of concentration inside the
cell.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS
● This type of cell membrane transport
uses energy (ATP) provided by the
cell.
● For example, a cell has low
intracellular sodium; but
concentration of potassium inside
the cell is very high. This is
maintained by the sodium –
potassium activated ATPase ,
generally called a sodium potassium
pump.
● Exocytosis refers to bulk movement
of substance out of the cell by fusion
of secretory vesicles with the plasma
membrane. Describe process
particles fusing with the plasma
membrane and releasing their
contents to the outside of the cell.
● Endocytosis refers to bulk movement
of substance into the cells by
vesicles forming at the plasma
 membrane. The process of ● Metaphase- chromosomes
capturing of the substance or align at the center of the cell
particles coming from outside the ● Anaphase- chromatids
cell by engulfing it with the cell separate at the centromere
membrane and bringing it into the and migrate to opposite
cell to process. poles.
● Telophase- two new nuclei
ACTIVE TRANSPORT assume their normal
SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP structure, and cell division
1. The sodium-potassium pump binds is completed, producing two
three sodium ions and a molecule of new daughter cells.
ATP.
2. The splitting of ATP provides energy to
change the shape of the channel. The
sodium ions are driven through the
channel.
3. The sodium ions are released to the
outside of the membrane, and the new
shape of the channel allows two
potassium ions to bind.
4. Release of the phosphate allows the
channel to revert. to its original form,
releasing the potassium ions on the
inside of the 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.
● INTERPHASE is the phase of the
cell-like cycle in which a typical cell
spends. During the interphase cell
copy the DNA in the preparation of
MITOSIS.

CELL DIVISION
● Cells arise from the division of other
cells.
● Mitosis consists of four stage
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.