The Cellular Basis of

Biochemistry
Lecture objectives:
• To describe the role of the cell in the structure of
living organisms
• To state the cell theory and know the scientists who
formulated it.
• To differentiate between pro- and eukaryotic cells
• To list the organelles making up the structure of a
eukaryotic cell.
• To describe the structure and function of each
organelle
Complex structure of organisms:
• The basic unit in biology is the cell, a complex
structure of biomolecules
• Aggregates of similar cells make tissues
• Tissues combine to make organs
• Organs carrying out a given function {such as
digestion} make an organ system
• Organismal body is made up of systems
Further complexity
• Organisms of the same kind make populations
• Different populations make communities
• Communities interacting with the non-living
environment make an ecosystems
• The biosphere contains many ecosystems:
aquatic, terrestrial and aerial
In this course our focus will be on:

The Cell
 Cells

• The cell is the basic unit of life

• A cell is capable of carrying out all life functions
• Cells grow, reproduce, use energy, adapt and
respond to their environment
• A cell may be an entire organism ( e.g. a
bacterium) or it may be one of billions of cells
that make up the organism
The Cell Theory
• The theory says that the cell is the fundamental
unit of structure, function and organization in all
living organisms and that new cells are formed
from pre-existing cells by division
• Contributors:
• Schwann
• Schleiden
• Virchow
Two basic types of Living Cells
• Prokaryotic :(pro = before, karyon = nucleus)
Cells that have no membrane-bound organelles ( no
clearly defined nucleus)
Un-differentiated cells
• Eukaryotic (eu = true) :
Cells that contain organelles and a nucleus surrounded
by a nuclear membrane.
Differentiated cells
•Small • Relatively bigger
Nucleoid region Nucleus with a nuclear
contains circular DNA membrane containing linear DNA
Cell membrane • Cell membrane
•No membrane-bound • Numerous membrane-bound
organelles. organelles
 Cell Organelles
• Organelles typically found
inside eukaryotic cells
include:
• The cell membrane
• Several membrane-bound
organelles (the nucleus,
mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticula, Golgi body, lysosomes
and peroxisomes)
• Other organelles such as the
ribosomes and the cytoskeleton
 1.Cell Membrane
• Location: around the cell, the boundary
• Structure: Mainly phospholipids, glycolipids,
cholesterol (animal cells) and different proteins
(integral and peripheral)
• Functions :
1. Protects the cell
2. Lets things in and out of the cell (selective
permeability)
3. Has receptors for various signaling molecules
such as hormones
The phospholipid bilayer also contains smaller amounts of
glycolipids and cholesterol
 2.Nucleus
• Location: inside the
cell, near the center.
• one per cell
• Functions:
1. Control center of the
cell
2. Contains the genetic
information( DNA)
 Nuclear Envelope
• Location: around nucleus
• Composed of two
membranes
• Has nuclear pores
• Functions:
1. Protects nucleus
2. Lets things in/out of
nucleus. As examples
mRNA out, proteins in
 Nucleolus
• Location:
• Inside the nucleus
• (appears as a dark spot)

• Function:
• Makes ribosomes

cell
 3.Mitochondria
• Location: in cytoplasm
• Bound by a double
membrane
• Has its own strand of DNA
• Many may be found in one
cell
• Functions:
1. Makes energy
(power-house of the cell)
 4.Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Location: in the cytoplasm,
connected to nuclear
membrane
• Two types.
1. Rough (RER): studded with
ribosomes;
Function: it makes proteins
2. Smooth (SER): no ribosomes;
function: it makes lipids
Both are part of the cell transport
system
 5.Ribosome
• Location: found attached to
rough ER or floating free in
cytosol
• Produced in the nucleolus
• Each ribosome is made up of
two subunits that combine
(together with mRNA and other
factors) during protein
biosynthesis
• Function: site of protein
synthesis
Attached Vs free ribosomes
• Ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic
reticulum produce:
• Secretory proteins
• Membrane-bound proteins
• Lysosomal enzymes
• Other proteins (such as nuclear and cytosolic
proteins) are synthesized on free ribosomes.
 6.Golgi Apparatus
• Location: near the cell
membrane.
• Looks like a stack of plates
• Molecules transported to
and from the Golgi body
by means of vesicles
• Function:
1. Packages, modifies, and
transports materials) to
different locations
inside/outside of the cell
(cell secretions)
 7.Lysosomes
• Location: cytoplasm
• Formation:
• Lysosomes are made as
vesicles budding of the
Golgi body
• Function:
1. Contain digestive enzymes
that break down wastes,
and remove damaged
organelles
 8. Peroxisomes
• Location: in cytoplasm
• Functions:
1. Break down H2O2 (using catalase)
2. Synthesise H2O2 ( when it is needed for some
oxidative reactions).
 9.Cytoskeleton
• Location: Arrays of
protein filaments in the
cytosol.
• Made of three types of
filaments ( microtubules,
microfilaments (actin
filaments) and
intermediate filaments)
• Functions:
1. Gives the cell its shape
2. Helps in cell movement
 Viruses: an EXCEPTION to the cell theory

• Viruses are sub-cellular entities containing either

DNA or RNA, as their genetic material, and are
surrounded by protein coats.
• The genetic material may be single-stranded or
double-strand, circular or linear.
• Viruses cannot reproduce by themselves; rather
they inject their genetic material into the host cell,
and direct its DNA, RNA and protein synthesizing
machinery to produce new virus particles.
 Lytic Vs Lysogenic life cycle
• Viral infection may cause cell lysis when the virus
goes through a cycle of replications, producing
many new virus particles, (i.e. lytic life cycle).
• With other infections, the genetic material of the
virus becomes integrated with the host cell DNA.
• The host cell remains alive and continues to
release virus particles at a slow rate.
• This is known as the lysogenic life cycle.
Summing up
• Listing structural organization from the cell to
the organismal level
• The Cell Theory and the contributors
• The distinction between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cell
• The organelles: membrane-bound and others
• The functions of each
• Viruses make an exception to the cell theory
 Get prepared to a tutorial on:
• Clinical conditions associated with some
defective organelles
• Mainly: lysosomes, peroxisomes and
mitochondria
• Next Saturday
 Quick Review
• Which organelle is the control center of the cell?
Nucleus
• Which organelle holds the cell together?
Cell membrane
• Which organelles are not found in prokaryotic cells?
Membrane-bound Organelles
• Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?
Ribosomes
• Which organelle helps to destroy waste?
Lysosomes
• Which organelle produces energy?
Mitochondria
• Where do we find catalase?
In peroxisomes