The cell
By Dr. Mushayyada rathore
Assistant professor (biochemistry)
Quran 3:110
Learning OBJECTIVES
At the end of today's lecture, you will be able to:
• Define biochemistry & its significance
• Compare characteristics of prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Identify Cellular organelles and their functions
WHAT IS Biochemistry?
The study of chemical processes within living organisms.
Three fields: structural biology, enzymology, and metabolism.
Macromolecules → proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and
lipids
Micro molecules → inorganic (water and metal ions) or organic
(the amino acids) molecules
Metabolism → The chemical reactions used by cells to harness
energy
Branches of Biochemistry
WHAT IS medical Biochemistry?
In medicine, biochemists investigate the causes and cures of
diseases.
Biotechnology: biochemical principles and methods +
engineering → manipulation of living systems → for research,
industrial processes, and diagnosis and control of disease
WHAT we study in Biochemistry?
Chemical properties
Membranes
Regulation
Hormones
Signal transduction
Receptors
Techniques
Biochemical techniques
Polymerase chain reaction
ELISA
Spectrophotometer
Applications of biochemistry
TESTING
Blood and urine chemistry → Glucose, LFTS, RFTs, Cardiac
Biomarkers, proteins
Pregnancy test → detection of the hormone human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG).
Breast cancer screening → Breast Cancer-1 gene (BRCA1) and
gene BRCA2
Prenatal genetic testing → Down syndrome or birth defects
such as spina bifida.
Inborn errors of metabolism → Phenylketonuria (PKU), a
metabolic disorder →enzyme deficient → phenylalanine
hydroxylase.
Applications of biochemistry
Cloning → Dolly the sheep
Genetic engineering → human insulin from bacteria.
Gene therapy → In 1990, a four-year-old patient had rare
genetic disease severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
To understand the chemical reactions involved in the human
body.
Physiotherapists use this knowledge to diagnose, treat and
prevent physical impairments and disabilities
The cell
What is a cell?
Building block of life
Basic smallest, structural and functional unit of life.
Can carry all activities of life.
Replicate itself independently
Types of Cell
Prokaryotic Cell
Greek word
Pro→'before’, karyote → 'nut, kernel'
Prokaryotic Cell:
Lacks a definite nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles
Nuclear material is directly submerged in the cytoplasm
Prokaryotic Cell
Bacterial cells have various shapes
eukaryotic Cell
Distinct nucleus
Complex and vary in size
All animals, plants, fungi, and many unicellular organisms are
eukaryotes
Essential Differences
Structure of eukaryotic cell
Cell Organelles
Plasma membrane
STRUCTURE
boundary between the cell & environment
Partially permeable
Made up of proteins, phospholipids
FUNCTION: (Door)
Controls movement of substances
Have antigens and channels
Have receptors → for specific hormones & neurotransmitters
Nucleus
STRUCTURE
Double membrane with nuclear pores
Nucleoplasm → contains chromatin
Nucleolus→ makes rRNA and assembles the ribosomes
FUNCTION: (Living room)
control center→ mRNA and protein synthesis
Genetic material → DNA / chromosomes
Manufactures rRNA & ribosomes
Starts the process of cell division
Ribosomes
STRUCTURE
Two sub units
attached to the SER or free floating in the cytoplasm
FUNCTION: Production house (Kitchen)
Synthesize proteins
Synthesize enzymes
Endoplasmic Reticulum
STRUCTURE: Complex system of double membranes continuous
with the nuclear membrane
CISTERNAE: Fluid filled sacs between the membranes
Two types
smooth – has no ribosomes attached (SER)
rough – has ribosomes attached (RER)
FUNCTION:
Forms an extensive transport system (Stairs)
Site of protein synthesis (Rough ER)
Site of lipid, steroid and carbohydrate synthesis (SER)
Golgi apparatus
STRUCTURE
Vesicles containing chemicals from rough ER join to make a
Golgi body where they are modified
Small vesicles are ‘pinched’ off the Golgi body & are secreted
Function: Modifications (Pantry)
Process and package proteins and lipid molecules and export
them
Lysosomes production
Assembling glycoproteins (such as mucin)
Production and storage of digestive enzymes
Lysosomes
STRUCTURE
membrane-enclosed organelles formed from Golgi body
FUNCTION (toilet)
contain enzymes capable of breaking down all types of
biological polymers—proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and
lipids.
Release enzymes which destroy worn out organelles
Digest materials taken into the cell by phagocytosis
Release enzymes to the outside of the cell which digest
materials around the cell
Autolysis → break down of dead cells
Mitochondria
STRUCTURE
Double membrane, Inner has cristae
Filled with matrix containing proteins, lipids, ribosomes and
loops of DNA
Can replicate themselves
FUNCTION: Power house (STOVE)
Site of aerobic respiration (Krebs cycle)
Production of ATP (oxidative phosphorylation)
Large numbers are found in muscle and liver cells
Peroxisomes
The name peroxi (peroxide) and soma (body) → formation and
decomposition of H2O2
single membrane enclosed
Contain H2O2 producing enzymes
Formed by budding from SER
Function
Degradation of long chain fatty acids
Degradation of H2O2
Vacuole
In plant cells → large and few in number, pushing intracellular
structures into periphery
In Animal cells → small but numerous in numbers
Functions (refrigerator)
Store water, salts, minerals, pigments and proteins
The plant→ vacuole is involved in turgor
Expand the plant cell without diluting its cytoplasm
Cytoskeleton
Intracellular network of filamentous structures
Three type
Microtubules: a multimers of tubulin
Intermediate filaments: keratins, neurofilaments
Microfilaments: actin and myosin filaments
Functions: maintain cellular morphology, propulsion, cleavage,
endocytosis, intracellular transport, cell motility
connects the cell physically and biochemically to the external
environment
Learning material
Cell and Molecular Biology (Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews)
Summary
Significance of Biochemistry
Types of cells and their differences
Cellular organelles and their functions
activity
Search cell analogy on google and write down your own cell
components
Thank you
