THE NATURE OF

BIOCHEMISTRY
Genna Maro G. Dapiroc, LPT, MaEd GenSci (Occ.)
WHAT IS BIOCHEMISTRY

 study of compounds, chemical

reactions, and molecular interactions
WHAT IS BIOCHEISTRY?

 it operates on the premise that all

changes and interactions that occur in
the physical universe.
 serves as the central component of all
health sciences
ARE THERE ANY LIMITS TO WHAT
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?

WHAT ULTIMATELY DETERMINES

OR SETS THESE LIMITS AS
APPLIED TO YOUR CHOSEN
CAREER?
 ATTRIBUTES OF LIFE
1. ADAPTATION

- the presence of body stuctures that make living things fit to live in it’s habitat.
 ATTRIBUTES OF LIFE
2. GROWTH & REPAIR
- growth is the ability to add new tissue
- repair is the ability to replace damaged parts

3. REPRODUCTION
- ability to beget offsprings, ensuring propagation and continuance of the species

4. METABOLISM
- biological and chemical activities or functions that provide energy
- anabolism & catabolism
 ATTRIBUTES OF LIFE
5. COMPLEXITY AND ORGANIZATION
- refers to elaborate structures needed to carry out laborious functions like metablosim

6. REGULATION
- the ability to keep the functions under control through the use of substances like
hormones and enzymes

7. ALL LIVING ORGANISMS POSSESS A CHARACTERISTIC SIZE AND SHAPE

8. RESPONSIVENESS TO STIMULI OR SENSITIVITY

- ability to respond favorably or unfavorably to its environment
 ATTRIBUTES OF LIFE
9. LOCOMOTION
- the ability to move on its initiative, under its control.

10. VARIATION AND CHANGE

- why no two organisms are exactly alike and no organisms remains unchanged forever

11. STEREOSPECIFICITY
- ability of certain molecules present in an organisms to inteact with nature in a left-or
right- handed manner.
THE CHEMICALS
TABLE OFOF LIFE
CONTENTS

INORGANIC
ELEMENTS
01 WATER 03
bulk elements ( N, Na, Mg, P,
S, Cl, K, Ca)

Trace elements (Fe, Zn, I)

ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS
02 Nucleic acids, proteins,
carbohydrates and fats and
lipids
 CELL
STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS
 Landmark in the study of Cell:
● Robert Hooke (1665)- observed a piece of cork ● Robert Brown (1831)- observed that
under the microscope and cells had a certainly positioned body
found it to
be made of small compartments which he called called nucleus.
cells.
● 1672- He observed bacteria, sperms and red blood
corpuscles, all of which
were cells.
The Cell Theory
M.J. Schledein & Theodore Schwann (1838)

 all organism are composed of 1 or more cells.

 Cell is the structural and functional unit of life, and
 Cells arise from pre- existing cells.
What is a
Cell?
Cell is the basic Structural and
functional unit of a living
organisms.

They make up living things and

carry out activities that keep a
living things alive.
 Two Types of Cell

Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell

● Organism which do not possess a ● All other possess a well defined

well formed nucleus ( bacteria) and nucleus, covered by nuclear
other organelles membrane( plants, fungi, animals,
protists) and various organelles.
 Differences between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells

eukaryotic cells prokaryotic cells

1. Nucleus distinct, with well formed nuclear 1. nucleus not distinct, it is in the form of a
membrane. nuclear zone( nucleoid). Nuclear membrane
2. Double- membrane cell organelles (chloroplasts, absent.
mitochondria, nucleus), and single membrane
2. Single – membrane cell bodies like
( golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles, endoplasmic
reticulum) are present
mesosomes present. Endoplasmic reticulum,
3. Ribosomes- 80S plastids, mitochondria, microbodies like
4. Distinct compartments in the cell lysosomes and golgi body absent.
5. Depending upon the species number of 3. Ribosomes – 70S
chromosomes per nucleus varies from two to 4. No compartments
many.
5. There is only 1 chromosome per cell
6. Each chromosome is linear with its two ends free.
6. The chromosomes is circular and remains
7. Each chromosomes has one linear double stranded
DNA complexed with histones attached to cell membrane at one point.
8. Each chromosomes has 1 centromere that divides 7. The chromosome has single double- stranded
a chromosome is terminal, the chromosome circular DNA molecule and is associated with
would have only one arm histones.
8. The chromosomes lacks a centromere.
 1. Plasma

Cell Structure 2.
Membrane
Nucleus
3. Cytoplasm
A. Cytosol
B. The rest of the Cell Organelles
a) Endoplasmic
Every cell: plasma membrane,
reticulum
nucleus and cytoplasm.
b) Golgi body
All activities inside the cell c) Lysosomes
and interactions of the cell d) Vacuoles
with its environment are e) Mitochondria
possible due to these
f) Plastids
features we call Cell
Structures. g) Centrosome
h) Cytoskeleton
 13.Ribosomes 14.Plasti 15. Peroxisome 16.Microfilament
13.Ribosomes 15.Microfilament
14.Peroxisome ds

Cell envelope Has many Functions.

May contain genes
that enhance the
Motility organelle survival of an
organism,. May
Store Cells facilitate the process
Energy of replication in
Site for Protein bacteria for some.
Synthesis
Contains Genomic Movement and
Adherence of Source
Material
 Differences between plant cell and animal cells

Plant Cells Animal Cells

1. Cellulose cell wall present external to cell 1. No cell wall, outermost structure is cell
membrane membrane
2. Vacuoles are usually large 2. Vacuoles are absent and if present, are usually
3. Plastids present small
4. Golgi body present in the form of units 3. Plastids absent
known as dictyosomes 4. Golgi body well developed having 2 cisternae
5. Centriole absent 5. Centriole present
Plasma • Extremely delicate, thin , elastic,
living and semi-permeable
Membrane membrane

Carbohydrates • Made up of two layers of lipid

molecules
in which protein molecules are floating
• Can be seen under an electron
microscope only

Functions:
• Maintains shape & size of the cell
• Protects internal contents of the cell
• Regulates entry and exit of
Proteins Lipids substances in and out of the cell
• Maintains homeostasis
 Cell • Outer most covering of a cell
(plants ,fungi and bacteria)
wall • Can be tough, rigid and sometimes flexible
Pectin Cellulose
• Made up of cellulose, hemicellulose
and pectin
• May be thin or thick, multilayered
structure
• Thickness varies from 50-1000 A˚
Functions:
• Provides definite shape, strength &
rigidity
• Prevents drying up(desiccation) of cells
Plasma membrane • Helps in controlling cell expansion
Hemicellulose
• Protects cell from external pathogens
 • Nucleus has a double layered covering called nuclear membrane
• Nuclear membrane has pores of diameter
about 80-100 nm
Nucleus • Colourless dense sap present inside the nucleus known as
nucleoplasm
• Nucleoplasm contains round shaped nucleolus and network of
chromatin fibres
• Fibres are composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein
histone
• These fibres condense to form chromosomes
during cell division

• Chromosomes contain stretches of DNA called genes

• Genes transfer the hereditary information
from one generation to the next
 • Jelly-like material formed by 80 % of
water
Cytoplasm • Present between the plasma
Organelles membrane and the nucleus
• Contains a clear liquid portion called
cytosol and various particles
• Particles are proteins,
carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids
and inorganic ions
• Also contains many organelles with
distinct structure and function
• Some of these organelles are visible
only under an electron microscope
Cytoplasm
Peroxisome
• Granular and dense in animal cells and
thin in plant cells
Function:
• Responsible for holding the components
of the cell and protects them from
 Endoplasmic • Network of tubular and vesicular
structures which are interconnected with
Reticulum one another
• Some parts are connected to the nuclear
membrane, while others are connected
to the cell membrane
• Two types: smooth(lacks ribosomes)
and rough(studded with ribosomes)
Functions:
• Gives internal support to the cytoplasm
• RER synthesize secretory proteins
Rough ER and membrane proteins
• SER synthesize lipids for cell membrane
Smooth ER • In liver cells SER detoxify drugs &
Creates Protein by connecting
poisons
Ribosomes amino acids to create a long
chain.
• In muscle cells SER store calcium ions
Golgi body
• Discovered by Camillo Golgi
• Formed by stacks of 5-8 membranous
Vesicles are bubble like
sacs
structures, play a critical role in
• Sacs are usually flattened and are called
the
the storage
cisternae and transport of
• Hasmolecules
two ends: cis within cells.
face situated near
the endoplasmic reticulum and trans
face situated near the cell membrane
Functions:
• Modifies, sorts and packs
materials synthesized in the
cell
• Delivers synthesized materials to various
targets inside the cell and outside the
cell
• Produces vacuoles and secretory vesicles
PROTEIN SHIPMENT
• 1.Necleolus
Forms plasma membrane
makes and lysosomes
ribosomes
 Lysosomes • Small, spherical, single membrane
sac
• Found throughout the cytoplasm

Hydrolytic enzymes Membrane • Filled with hydrolytic enzymes

• Occur in most animal cells and in
few type of plant cells
Functions:
• Help in digesting of large
molecules
• Protect cell by destroying
foreign invaders like bacteria
and viruses
• Degradation of worn out
organelles
• In dead cells perform autolysis
 Vacuoles • Single membrane sac filled with
Tonoplast liquid or sap (water, sugar and
ions)
• In animal cells, vacuoles are
temporary, small in size and few in
number
• In plant cells, vacuoles are large and
more
Functions:
in number
•• Store
May bevarious substances
contractile including
or non-contractile
Plant Cell
Vacuole
waste products
• Maintain osmotic pressure of the cell
• Store food particles in amoeba cells
• Provide turgidity and rigidity to plant
cells
 Mitochondria • Small, rod shaped organelles bounded by two
membranes - inner and outer
• Outer membrane is smooth and encloses
Ribosomes the contents of mitochondria
Matrix • Inner membrane is folded in the form of
shelf like inward projections called cristae
Cristae
• Inner cavity is filled with matrix which
contains many enzymes
• Contain their own DNA which are responsible
for many enzymatic actions
DNA
Functions:
• Synthesize energy rich compound ATP
Outer membrane • ATP molecules provide energy for the vital
Inner membrane activities of living cells
Endosymbiosis Theory
Once free living organism that becomes part of the
modern cell.
Plastids
Plasti ds are double membrane-
bound organelles found inside
plants and some algae.

They are responsible for acti viti es

related to making and storing
food.

They oft en contain different types of

pigments that can change the
colour of the cell.
 Chloroplasts • Double membrane-bound organelles found
mainly in plant cells

Outer • Usually spherical or discoidal in shape

Inner
membrane • Shows two distinct regions-grana and
membrane
stroma

Thylakoid
• Grana are stacks of thylakoids (membrane-
bound, flattened discs)
• Thylakoids contain chlorophyll
molecules which are responsible for
photosynthesis
Functions:
• Stroma is a colourless dense fluid
• Convert light energy into chemical
Stroma
energy in the form of food
Granum • Provide green colour to leaves, stems
and
vegetables
 Centrosome
• Centrosome is the membrane bound organelle
Centrosome
present near the nucleus
matrix
• Consists of two structures called centrioles

Microtubules • Centrioles are hollow, cylindrical structures

made of microtubules
• Centrioles are arranged at right angles to each
other

Functions:
Centrioles •Form spindle fibres which help in the
movement
Centrosome organize
of chromosomes during cell Microtubules
division
• Help in the formation of cilia and flagella
 CYTOSKELETON

• Formed by microtubules and

Functions:
Microtubules microfilaments
compose the core of the cellular
extension Cilia• and Flagella.are hollow tubules made • Determine the shape of the cell
Microtubules
Cilia is short-hairuplike
of extension
protein called tubulin • Give structural strength to the cell
Flagella is a long whip-like extension
• Microfilaments are rod shaped thin • Responsible for cellular movements
filaments
These extension are responsible for cell
● made up of protein called actin
movement . ● intermediate filaments create a cable-
The study of cell structure and function is crucial for
 advancing our understanding of life processes,
 identifying diseases,
 biotechnology,
 improving agriculture,
 and enhancing environmental preservation.
METHODS OF MATERIAL TRANSFER

Diffusion
● is the movement of solute
particles from a region of
greater concentration to
one of lower
concentration
● important in maintaining
proper balance
METHODS OF MATERIAL TRANSFER

Osmosis
● is the passage of solvent
molecules from a region
of lower concentration to
one of greater
concentration through a
semi-permeable
membrane
● The pressure needed to
prevent osmosis is called
osmotic pressure.
 METHODS OF MATERIAL TRANSFER
3. Dialysis

• is the separation of colloidal particles from those of a true solution by means of a semi-
permeable membrane.
• only the solution particles pass through the membrane
• no energy is needed
• kidney membranes allow the passage of soluble waste materials but not the colloidal
proteins.
• Hemodialysis is the removal of soluble waste products from the bloodstream by means of a
membrane, causing purification of the blood.
METHODS OF MATERIAL TRANSFER

Active Transport

● is the movement of
materials against a
concentration gradient,
and there fore requires
enzymes and energy.