INTRODUCTION

DR. AMINA FARID KHAN

DPT
MS(NMPT)
 Introduction to biochemistry

The term Biochemistry (bios=life) was first

coined by a German chemist Carl Neuberg in
1903.

Biochemistry is defined as the field of science

concerned with the chemical nature and
chemical behavior of the living matter.
Continue..
 Biochemistry is the most important branch of
science through which we can see the biological
functioning of our body cells in the terms of
chemistry.
 The four main classes of molecules in
biochemistry are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
and nucleic acids.
 Why biochemistry is important?

 Biochemistry plays an important role as it plays a

role in anabolic and catabolic activities through

energy system including aerobics and anaerobics.

 Cell
 Cells are the structural and functional
units of all living organisms.
Discovery of Cell: Robert Hooke in
1665 using a microscope
Cell Theory: All living organisms are
composed of cells
 Some organisms such as bacteria are
unicellular consisting of a single cell.
 Other organisms such as humans are
multicellular or have many cells.
 TYPES OF CELL

1. Prokaryotic cell

2. Eukaryotic cell
Two main categories of the cell are
a) Somatic cell
b) Genetic cell
Components of the cell
The cell consists of:
a) Cell Membrane Nucleus

b) Cytoplasm
c) Nucleus Cytoplasm Cell
membrane

9
Cytoplasm
Anatomy
Transparent, dilute mixture
of water and electrolytes
Function
a) Acts as storage house of
vital chemicals
b) Site of metabolic
processes like glycolysis

10
 Plasma Membrane

 COMPOSITION: Cell membrane mainly

consists of lipids, proteins and small amount of
carbohydrates
I- Membrane Lipids: 3 types
1- Phospholipids
2- Glycolipids
3- Cholesterol
They are amphipathic molecules
Formation: Membrane lipids spontaneously
form bilayer in aqueous medium burrying their
hydrophobic tails and leaving their hydrophilic
ends exposed to water
II- Membrane Proteins: 2 main categories:
1- Integral Proteins: are partially or totally
immersed in lipid bilayer and act as enzyme and
transport carrier for ions and water soluble
substances ,e.g , glucose
11
 2- Peripheral proteins: are attached to the surface of the lipid bilayer and
by hydrogen bonds. They bound loosely to the polar head groups of the
membrane phospholipid bilayer. Peripheral proteins function as enzymes
and receptors
III- Membrane carbohydrates: Membrane carbohydrates do not exist in
free state. They occur in combination with proteins or lipids in the form
of glycoproteins or glycolipids.
 Most of the integral proteins are glycoproteins. About one-tenth of the
membrane lipid molecules are glycolipids.
 The carbohydrate portion of these molecules protrude to the outside
of cell dangling outward from the cell surface
 Many of the carbohydrates act as receptor for hormones
 The primary functions of carbohydrates in the body are to provide
energy, store energy and build macromolecules
Glucose energy is stored as glycogen, with the majority of it in the muscle
and liver

12
Cell Membrane

13
 The Cell Membrane
 The phospholipids form a thin, flexible sheet, while
the proteins "float" in the phospholipid sheet like
icebergs, and the carbohydrates extend out from the
proteins.
 The phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer, with their
polar, hydrophilic phosphate heads facing outwards,
and their non-polar, hydrophobic fatty acid tails facing
each other in the middle of the bilayer.
 This hydrophobic layer acts as a barrier to all but the
smallest molecules, effectively isolating the two sides
of the membrane.
 Different kinds of membranes can contain
phospholipids with different fatty acids, affecting the
strength and flexibility of the membrane
 Animal cell membranes also contain cholesterol
linking the fatty acids together and so stabilizing and
strengthening the membrane.
14
• Fluid Mosaic Model of plasma membrane was postulated by
 Singer and Nicolson in 1972
• A mosaic is a structure made up of many different parts
 Likewise, the plasma membrane is composed of many different
kinds of macromolecules like phospholipids, integral proteins,
peripheral proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids and cholesterol

• According to this model:

 -The membrane structure is a lipid bilayer made up of
phospholipids
 -The bilayer is fluid because the hydrophobic tails of
phospholipids consist of an appropriate mixture of saturated
and unsaturated fatty acids that is fluid at normal temperature
of the cell

15
Functions Of Cell Membrane:
 Protective function: The cell
membrane protects the cytoplasm
 Maintenance of shape and size of the
cell
 As a semipermeable membrane: The
cell membrane permits only some
substances to pass through it in either
direction, and it forms a barrier for
other substances

16
 Movement across Cell Membranes
 There are four main methods by which
substances can move across a cell membrane:

1- Lipid Diffusion
2- Osmosis
3- Passive Transport
4- Active Transport

17
 Cell organelles
 Cells also have a set of "little organs“ called
organelles that are adapted and specialized for
carrying out one or more vital functions.
 Organelles are found only in eukaryotes and are
always surrounded by a protective membrane.
 It is important to know some basic facts about the
following organelles.
 Cell organelles
1. Nucleus
2. Mitochodria
3. Golgiappratus
4. Lysosomes
5. Endoplasmisc reticulum
6. Peroxisomes
7. Vacuoles
8. Centrioles
 NUCLEUS
 The nucleus is the most conspicuous organelle found
in a eukaryotic cell.
 Function:
1. Storage of hereditary material, the genes in the form of
long and thin DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strands,
referred to as chromatin.
2. it controls the hereditary characteristics of an organism.
3. protein synthesis,
4. cell division,
5. growth and differentiation.
Nucleus structure
 MITOCHONDRIA
 Mitochondria are rod-shaped organelles that can be
considered the power generators of the cell, converting
oxygen and nutrients into adenosine triphosphate
(ATP)
 Mitochondria are bounded by a double membrane.
 Each of these membranes is a phospholipid bilayer
with embedded proteins.
 Double membrane bound organelles that are spherical
to elongate in shape.
 Converts energy into a from the cell can use.
 They have certain strands of DNA, ribosomes and can
make their own proteins.
Structure of mitochondria
 Golgi apparatus
 The Golgi apparatus (GA), also called

Golgi body or Golgi complex and found

universally in both plant and animal

cells, is typically comprised of a series of

five to eight cup-shaped, membrane-

covered sacs called cisternae

 The Golgi apparatus is often considered

the distribution and shipping department

for the cell's chemical products.

 LYSOSOMES
 Lysosome is single membrane organelle.
 A lysosome is basically a specialized vesicle that
holds a variety of enzymes.
 The enzyme proteins are first created in the rough
endoplasmic reticulum.
 Those proteins are packaged in a vesicle and sent to
the Golgi apparatus.
 The Golgi then does its final work to create the
digestive enzymes and pinches off a small, very
specific vesicle.
 That vesicle is a lysosome.
lysosomes
 Endoplasmic reticulum
 The ER is a network of folded membranes and tightly packed
interconnected sacs, and consists of smooth ER and rough ER.
 The smooth ER is responsible for lipid and carbohydrate
synthesis, calcium ion storage, and detoxifying enzymes.
 The rough ER contains ribosomes on the outer surface, and it
synthesizes and assembles proteins.
 The internal area of the ER is known as the ER lumen.
 It contains enzymes used to catalyze cellular reactions.
 Peroxisomes
 Peroxisomes are organelles found in nearly all
eukaryotic cells.
 The main function of peroxisomes is to break
down long fatty acid chains and synthesize
necessary phospholipids that are critical for
proper brain and lung function.
 CENTRIOLES
 These paired organelles are found
together near the nucleus, located at right
angles to each other. Each centriole is
made of nine bundles of microtubules
(three per bundle) arranged in a ring.
 Centrioles also play a role in cell division.
 These structures are self-replicating and
make copies of themselves just before cell
division begins. As the cell prepares to
divide, the centrioles separate and move
toward opposite poles of the cell
Sub cellular organelles and their biochemical
functions
1- Plasma Membrane: Transport of molecules in and out of cells,
receptors and neurotransmitters
2- Lysosomes: Intracellular digestion
3-Golgi Apparatus: Screening of proteins for export
4- Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: Biosynthesis of proteins and
secretions
5- Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum: Biosynthesis of Steroid hormones
and Phospholipids
6-Peroxisome: Metabolism of Hydrogen peroxides and Fatty Acid
oxidation
9- Mitochondrion: Site for ATP synthesis
10- Nucleus: Storage of DNA, replication and repair of DNA,
Transcription and post-transcription
11- Nucleolus: Synthesis of rRNA and formation of ribosomes
12- Cytosol: Site for biochemical reactions

31
THANK YOU