BIOCHEM
BIOCHEM
BIOCHEM
BIOCHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY OF LIFE
Bio= life
Biochemistry= the branch of science in which you study the chemical and physical
processes that occur in an organism.
Matter
All matter, whether living or nonliving, is made of the same type building blocks called
atoms
An atom is the smallest basic unit of matter
All atoms have the same basic structure, composed of three smaller particles.
Proton - a positively charged particle in an atom’s nucleus
Neutron - a neutral (no charge) particle which has about the same mass as a
proton and is also in the nucleus
Electron - a negatively charged particle found outside the nucleus. Electrons are
much, much smaller than proton and neutrons
Elements
Different types of atoms are called elements, which cannot be broken down by ordinary
chemical means
Only about 25 different elements are found in organisms
However, atoms of different elements can “link” or bond together to form compounds
Isotope
Elements can have a different number of neutrons.
This is called an isotope
Carbon 14, Carbon 13, and Carbon 12
Compounds
Atoms form compounds in two ways
1. Ionic bonds - consists of ions and forms through the electrical force between
oppositely charged ions
An ion is an atom that has lost or gained electrons
o Cation – an ion that loses electrons so becomes positively charged
o Anion – an ion that gains electrons so becomes negatively charged
2. Covalent bonds - forms when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons
A molecule consists of two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds
Why elements bond the way they do...
All atoms want 8 electrons in their outer most energy level (shell) This is called the octet
rule.
That is why they do what they do
Ionic bonds – gain or lose electrons
Covalent share electrons
How do we identify each type
Ionic compound – metal + non-metal
Covalent compound – non-metal + non-metal
History of Cell Discovery
Microscope view of cells
Robert Hooke
first to see cells
designed microscope that he was able to view cork cells with (1665).
Named “Cells” because they look like monk quarters
Theodore Schwann – zoologist who observed that the tissues of animals had cells
(1839)
Mattias Schleiden – botanist who observed that the tissues of plants had cells (1845)
Rudolf Virchow – reported that every living thing is made up of cells, and that these cells
must come from other cells.
Cell Theory
1. All living things are made of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in organisms.
(the smallest unit that can perform life functions)
3. All cells come from pre - existing cells.
Terms
Cell – the smallest unit that can carry on the processes of life.
Unicellular – consists of only one cell
Multicellular – consists of more than one cell
Basic cell structures
Lysosomes
digests and recycles old cell parts, sometimes bacteria
contain high levels of enzymes
Peroxisomes
Are also small vesicles surrounded by a membrane. They are also called as
microbodies.
Functions:
1. They contain enzymes of H2O2 metabolism. The concentration of protein in
peroxisomes is very high and they may occur in crystallines form. The enzymes of
H2O2 catabolism present in peroxisomes are peroxidase and catalase.
Ribosomes
site of protein synthesis
links amino acids together to form proteins
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Transport system within the cell
Transport cell materials
Two types: Rough (With Ribosomes) and Smooth
Rough ER
It has ribosomes which give it its “rough”
appearance
Functions in protein synthesis
Smooth ER
Mostly contains enzymes that function in lipid
synthesis
Golgi Apparatus
Flattened stacks of membranes
Collects, packages and modifies cell
materials to be used in other parts of
the cell or transported out of the cell
Vacuole/Vesicles
storage
Centrioles
Used during cell division and separate
chromosomes
Only found in animal cells
Cytoskeleton
- These are filament like structures made up of proteins present in cytoplasm. Non-muscle
cells perform mechanical work with these intracellular networks of proteins.
Microfilaments. They are actin like filaments. They form loose web beneath cell
membrane.
Intermediate filaments-fixing positions
Microtubules. Tubulin is the building block of microtubules. Dendrites, axons of nerve
cells and sperm cells contain microtubules. The sperm cell moves with the help of
flagellum, a microtubule. These cytoskeletons are involved in the maintenance of cell
shape, cell division, cell motility, phagocytosis, endocytosis and exocytosis.
The Cell Cycle
Somatic Cells
Cells that make your organs and tissues
Sex Cells
The ONLY cells that are not somatic – sperm and egg (Gametes)
Cell Division
Water
- Water accounts for about 70-75% of the weight of the cell. Other cellular constituents are
either dissolved or suspended in water.
Organic Compounds
1. Organic compounds accounts for 25-30% of the cell weight.
2. 2. They are nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and lipids.
Proteins account 10-20% of the weight of the cell. Nucleic acids account 7-10%
of the cell weight.
3. Polysaccharides usually account for 2-5% of the cell weight. About 3% of cell
weight is due to lipids. Lipids content may be higher in adipocytes or fat cells.
Proteins may account more of cell weight in cells like erythrocytes.
4. Other low molecular weight organic compounds may account for 4% of cell
weight. They
5. are monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, purine and pyrimidine
nucleotides, peptides, hormones, vitamins and coenzymes.
Inorganic Compounds
1. Inorganic compounds account for the rest of the cell weight.
2. They are cations like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and
anions like chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate, sulfate, iodide and fluoride.
Why do multicellular organisms need to regulate the death of their cells?
To regulate the sizes of cell populations in adult bodies cell proliferation must be
balanced with cell death.
This allows organisms to precisely control the sizes of their tissues and organs.
Three types of Cell Death
1. Necrosis
It is also termed as cell murder. Cells undergo necrotic death if cell membrane is
damaged or due to decreased oxygen supply and if energy (ATP) production is
blocked.
2. Apoptosis
This type of cell death occurs in tissue turnover. Individual cells or groups of cells
undergo this type of death. Aged cells in the body are removed by apoptosis.
It is a genetically programmed cell death. In the initial stages of apoptosis, cell
shrinks, followed by fragmentation and finally these fragments are eliminated by
phagocytosis.
3. Atrophy
This type of cell death occurs in the absence of essential survival factors.
Survival factors required by the cell are produced by other cells. Absence of
nerve
growth factor leads to atrophy of nerves. It is also genetically programmed cell
death.
Medical and Biological Importance
Cells are not immortal i.e., they have finite life span. In the body, cells are formed and
destroyed. So, cells are in dynamic state.
Cell division and cell death are two opposite processes required to maintain constant
tissue volume (tissue homeostasis).
Further cell death plays an important role in shaping tissues and organs during
development or during recovery from injuries.
Cell death may occur due to several external factors also.