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Biochemistry of the Cell Historical Notes

At the end of the learning session, the students  Robert Hooke was the first person to use the term
must be able to: “cell”. He referred to the small empty chambers in
the structure of cork as cells.
 Define correctly the cell and its organelles.  1600, he is the first person who identify cell
 Compare accordingly the eukaryotic cell and from a plant tissue.
prokaryotic cell.  He saw some cube like structures that
 Know in details the different organelles and reminded him of the long rows of monk’s
discuss their structures and functions. rooms (or cells) at the monastery, so he
 Distinguish properly the various membrane named these structures “cells.”
transport mechanism and their function.
 Know correctly the cell life cycle.  Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann
concluded that all plant and animal tissues were
TOPIC OUTLINE composed of cells.
1 Historical Notes  Matthias Schleiden concluded that plant
2 Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cell tissue is primarily is composed of cell.
 He is a German botanist.
3 Molecular Composition of Cell
 Cell is the basic building blocks of all plant
4 Important Notes in Prokaryotic Cell
matters.
5 Cell Membrane Transport
 Theodor Schwann demonstrated the same
6 Cell Life Cycle
path like Matthias.
 Lead now with the foundation of cell
Cell theory.
 Biochemistry explores molecular mechanisms  Rudolf Virchow proposed the theory of
of normal cellular processes as well as biogenesis where cells only arise from pre-existing
diseases. cells.
 He is a doctor and a pathologist.
 All higher living organisms including humans  1858, he proposed the theory of
are made up of cells.
biogenesis.
 Explained the present of animal cull.
Two major classes:

1. Prokaryotes Cell Theory

2. Eukaryotes
 A cell is the basic structural and functional unit
of living organisms.

 The activity of an organism depends on the

collective activities of its cells.

 According to the principle of complementarity,

the activities of cells are dictated by their
structure (anatomy), which determines function
(physiology).

Eukaryotic Cell vs. Prokaryotic Cell

Eukaryotes Prokaryotes
 DNA is found in  DNA is not
the nucleus of the enclosed within
cell. the membrane.
 Contain  Lack membrane-
membrane-bound enclosed
organelles which organelles

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include
mitochondria,
endoplasmic
reticulum, and
Golgi complex
 Cell division  Usually divide by
involves mitosis. binary fission.

 Process where  Aka asexual

in a single reproduction,
cell divides it is a
into two separation of
identical the body into
daughter cell. two new
bodies.
 Genetic
material is
Deoxyribonuc
leic Acid 1. PLASMA MEMBRANE aka as Cell
(DNA) Membrane and Cytoplasmic Membrane

Structure: Phospholipid bilayer containing

cholesterol and proteins and some
Molecular Composition of Cell carbohydrates; forms a selectively
permeable boundary of the cell.
 Water accounts for about 70-75% of the weight of  It can be flexible, fragile and
the cell. transparent barrier.
 Essential within our life.  It contains the cell
contents.
 Organic compounds accounts for 25-30% of the  As barrier, separates
cell weight. them from surrounding
environment.
 They are nucleic acids, proteins,
polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and Different Carbohydrates in Plasma
lipids. Membrane:
 Glycoproteins and Glycolipids
 Inorganic compounds account for the rest of the
cell weight. Types of Lipids in Plasma Membrane:
 Phospholipid
 It can be cation and anion.  Antipathic in nature-
 Some electrolytes that have function in means having both
our body. hydrophilic and
hydrophobic.

 Hydrophilic
Composition of the Eukaryotic Cell
means “water-
loving”; it is the
 Eukaryotic Cells have a Membrane-Bound
polar head
Nucleus and a number of other Membrane-Bound
Subcellular (Internal) Organelles, each of which has a
 Hydrophobic
specific function.
means “water-
fearing”; it is the
tail


nd
Protein is the 2 major
components scattered in the

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membrane.  When a cell is dividing to

 Acts as enzymes, receptors and form two daughter cells,
respond to hormones. the chromatin threads coil
 They binds to the structure inside and condense to form
and outside of the cell dense, rod like bodies
called chromosome.
 Glycoprotein considered
as “sugar protein”, acts  All body cells have nucleus except
as a receptor for bacteria, RBCs.
viruses and toxins.  A muscle tissue that contains
 Also determine our blood several tissues is skeletal muscle.
type.

 Cholesterol helps for the

stabilization of the membrane.
 Keeps the plasma
membrane flexible.

Function: It contains the DNA that serves

as the genetic material for directing
protein synthesis.

 Control center of the cell or

Functions: Acts as a physical barrier to the headquarters of the cell.
enclose cell contents; regulates material  It contains genetic material
movement into and out of the cell; functions which is the DNA.
in cell communication.
 DNA is serves as a
2. NUCLEUS blueprint because it
contains all the
Structure: It is enclosed within a double instructions needed in
membrane called nuclear envelope; building the whole body.
contains nucleolus.  For building proteins
and cell reproduction.
 Nucleolus: It consists of RNA and
proteins which functions in 3. CYTOPLASM
ribosomal unit assembly.
Structure: This can be seen between the
 Ribosomal unit used for plasma membrane and the nucleus where
protein synthesis. the other cellular elements are embedded.

 Nucleoplasm: It surrounds the  Organelles are membrane-bound

chromatin and the nucleoli. structures which carry out specific
 When a cell is not metabolic activities of the cell.
dividing, its DNA is
carefully wound around  Cytosol provides support for
proteins called histones to organelles and serves as the
form a loose network of viscous fluid medium.
“beads on a string” called
chromatin that is scattered  Largely water contains
throughout the nucleus.

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nutrients and other oxidative phosphorylation.

varieties of solutes.
 ATP is formed as a result of
 Inclusions are the “cellular transfer of electrons.
pantry”. Where the items are kept.  From transfer of
electron from
 Glycogen granules are NADH to FADH
most abundant in liver to oxygen.
and muscle cells.  NADH means nicotinamide
 Pigments that gives color. adenine dinucleotide
 Mucous membranes,  FADH means flavin adenine
secretory product and dinucleotide; redox active co-
various kinds of enzymes.
crystals.  Involves in several enzymatic
reaction.

 Inner membrane has multiple

folds projecting inwards, called
cristae.

 Allow the increase

surface of the
mitochondria for the
chemical reaction.

Function: It is responsible for various

cellular processes.

4. MITOCHONDRIA

Structure: Double-membrane-bound
organelles containing a circular strand of
DNA

 Outer membrane is highly

Function: It is responsible for the
permeable to small molecules, due
production of energy in the form of ATP.
to the presence of a pore-forming
 ATP provides energy for
protein called porin.
cellular work.
 Mitochondria porin allow
the passages of the small
molecules across the 5. LYSOSOMES
mitochondria outer
membrane. Structure: Spherical shaped membrane
bound organelles formed from the golgi
 In line with complex
apparatus; contain digestive enzymes
interaction regulates other
organelles
 For cellular metabolism,  The fluid inside lysosomes is much
provides ATP as energy. more acidic, at about pH 4.8, than
the normal pH of about 7.0–7.3.
 Intermembrane contains many  Called scavenger of the cell and
proteins that participate in also the suicide sack.

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7. GOLGI APPARATUS

Structure: Series of several elongated,

flattened saclike membranous structures.

 Considered as traffic director for

cellular proteins.

Function: Digest microbes or materials by

the cell

6. ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

It is further subdivided into:

1. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Structure: Extensive interconnected Functions: Modifies, packages, and sorts

membrane network that varies in shape; materials, that arrive from the
ribosomes attached on the cytoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum in transport
surfaces vesicles

 Ribosomes are involved in the  Vesicles transport cellular material.

protein synthesis. Mature vesicles are called
secretory vesicles.
Functions: Modifies, transports, and stores
proteins produces by attached ribosomes
8. PEROXISOMES

Structure: smaller, spherical membrane

bound organelles formed from the
endoplasmic reticulum.

 Peroxisomes came from hydrogen

peroxide; basis of the name of the
peroxisome.
 Hydrogen peroxide is
toxic to the cell
 Disarm the pre-radicals.

 Catalase helps the hydrogen

peroxide to convert into water and
2. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum oxygen. Neutralize the toxicity of
 Involved in lipid metabolism, fat the cell.
synthesis, breakdown,  Fatty acids and also the amino
detoxification of drugs and acid.
pesticides.  Alcohol and formaldehyde

Structure: Extensive interconnected

membrane network lacking ribosomes

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support.

Important Notes in Prokaryotic Cell

 Prokaryotes (Eubacteria and Archaebacteria)

are the most abundant organisms on earth.

 Eubacteria consists of single cell nuclei;

lacks nucleus and containing DNA and
single cellular chromosome.
 Can be gram positive and gram
negative.

Examples:
 Escherichia Coli
 Lactobacillus
Functions: Detoxify specific harmful
substances either produced by the cell or  Archaebacteria considered as the ancient
taken into the cell form of type of microorganism.
 Separate to the type of other
microorganism; inline as a
9. CYTOSKELETON kingdom

Structure: Organized network of protein

filaments  A prokaryotic cell does not contain a membrane-
bound nucleus.

 Function: Maintains integral

structural support and  Each prokaryotic cell is surrounded by a plasma
organization of cells membrane.

 Microfilaments maintain cell  The cell has no subcellular organelles, only

shape. infoldings of the plasma membrane called
 Intermediate filaments give mesosomes.
mechanical support to structures  Helps in the cell wall formation.
like nucleus and plasma  Helps in DNA replication
membrane.  Distribution of the daughter cell
 Help to form  Respiration, secretion and increase the
desmosome; adhesive surface area of the plasma membrane and
protein that responsible for within the enzyme content of the plasma
maintaining the integrity membrane.
of the tissue.
 Microtubules provide structural  The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is condensed

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within the cytosol to form the nucleoid.

SODIUM POTASSIUM PUMP
 Some prokaryotes have tail-like flagella.
 Flagella are for motility.
1.  The sodium-potassium pump binds three
Cell Membrane Transport sodium ions and a molecule of ATP.

PASSIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS

 Diffusion is the movement of a substance from an

area of its higher concentration to an area of its
lower concentration.

 Simple diffusion is the type of diffusion of

dissolved solutes through the plasma
membrane

 Example: Water, oxygen, carbon

dioxide, ethanol and urea. 2.  The splitting of
ATP provides
 Facilitated Diffusion is the type of diffusion energy to change
that requires a protein carrier. the shape of the
channel. The
sodium ions are
 Osmosis is the diffusion of water point
driven through
across a selectively permeable
the channel.
membrane.

 Example: Kidney dialysis

ACTIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS

 This type of cell membrane transport uses energy 3.  The sodium ions
(ATP) provided by the cell. are released to the
outside of the
 For example, cell has low intracellular sodium; membrane, and the
but concentration of potassium inside the cell is new shape of the
very high. channel allows two
potassium ions to
 This is maintained by the sodium–potassium bind.
activated ATPase, generally called as sodium
pump.

 Exocytosis refers to bulk movement of

substance out of the cell by fusion of
secretory vesicles with the plasma
membrane. 4.  Release of the
phosphate allows
 Endocytosis refers to bulk movement of the channel to revert
substance into the cells by vesicles to its original form,
forming at the plasma membrane. releasing the
potassium ions on
the inside of the
membrane.

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ENDOCYTOSIS
 The DNA molecule is duplicated exactly in a
process called DNA replication which occurs toward
the end of the interphase

Cell Division
 Cells arise from the division of other cells.

 Mitosis consists of four stages-prophase,

metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The result is
two daughter nuclei, each identical to the mother
nucleus.
1. PROPHASE

 Each chromosome consists of two

chromatids joined at the
 Phagocytosis is the process of cell eating
centromere.
cell.
 Disappear the nuclear envelope
 Neutrophil is responsible during
and nucleoli
phagocytosis.
 Digest the bacteria. 2. METAPHASE
 Pinocytosis is the process of cell drinking.
 Chromosomes align at the center
 Programmed cell death is apoptosis.
of the cell called metaphase
plane
EXOCYTOSIS
3. ANAPHASE

 Chromatids separate at the

centromere and migrate to
opposite poles.

4. TELOPHASE

 Two new nuclei assume their

normal structure, and cell division
is completed, producing two new
daughter cells.
 Visible the nucleoli and nuclear
Cell Life Cycle envelope.
 Cleavage furrow
Growth requires cell division.

FOUR STAGES IN CELL CYCLE:

1. Synthesis
2. Gap 1 Phase
3. Gap 2 Phase
4. Mitosis Phase

INTERPHASE

 It is the longer phase of the cell cycle where the

cell is active and preparing for cell division.

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MITOSIS

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