Lesson 0. Introduction to Biochemistry and Cellular Organization

Biochemistry

• systematic study of biochemical substances found in living organisms, its organization, chemical interactions with each other, and the principles of their participation in the processes of life

• several applications in medicine, pharmacy, environmental science, agriculture, and other related fields

Bioinorganic substances

inorganic salt and water

Bioorganic substances

carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids

Genetics

branch of biology dealing with heredity and variation of organisms

nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)

RELATIONSHIP OF GENETICS WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry deals with ____________________________ which are integral substances in heredity and genetic variations.

Physiology

branch of biology dealing with the physical and chemical phenomena behind functions/activities of a living organism

bodily functions

RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSIOLOGY WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry aids in the rationalization of these chemical processes behind our _________________.

Pathology

branch of biology dealing with structural and functional deviation from normal bodily conditions resulting into a particular characteristic for a disease

cellular/ molecular level

RELATIONSHIP OF PATHOLOGY WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry aids in understanding these deviations at a ________________.

Pharmacology

branch of medicine dealing with drug composition, mechanism of action, uses, effects, and toxicity

interaction

RELATIONSHIP OF PHARMACOLOGY WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry explains the ________________ between the drug substance and our body at a molecule level.

Pharmacy

art and science of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medically useful drug substances

medication

RELATIONSHIP OF PHARMACY WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry aids in the understanding of biochemical process necessary in the preparation of the most appropriate ________

Toxicology

science dealing with the study of the nature, detection, and effects of poisonous or intoxicating substances to the body

enzyme mechanisms, gene regulation pathways, or genetic factors

RELATIONSHIP OF TOXICOLOGY WITH BIOCHEMISTRY:

• Biochemistry identify ____________________________________________ that may result to a toxicological event.

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Hydrogen

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Carbon

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Nitrogen

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Oxygen

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Sodium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Magnesium

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Phosphorus

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Sulfur

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Chlorine

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Potassium

Bulk Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Calcium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Vanadium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Chromium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Chromium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Manganese

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Iron

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Cobalt

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Nickel

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Copper

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Zinc

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Selenium

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Molybdate

Trace Element

Bulk or Trace Element?

Iodine

Bioinorganic Substances

substances that do not contain carbon

Bioorganic Substances

Substances that contain carbon

70%

percentage of water

about 5%

percentage of inorganic salts

about 15%

percentage of proteins

about 8%

percentage of lipids

about 2%

percentage of carbohydrates

about 2%

percentage of nucleic acids

Amino Acid

• a simple compound with an amine and carboxylic acid functional group

• contains a chiral/alpha carbon

• amphoteric

• only heteroatom that contains a Sulfur

Carbohydrates

• hydrate of carbon

• represented by a general formula of (CH2O)n (n ~ at least 3)

• contains either an aldehyde/ketone and a hydroxyl group

Lipids

• most structural diverse biomolecule

• consistently composed of long-chain fatty acids

• carboxylic acid + long open chain (HC)

Nucleic Acids

• basic unit of hereditary material

• made up of 5-C sugar, N-ring, and a Phosphate group

• only heteroatom that contains Phosphorus

Mild Biochemical Reaction

releases energy in this manner compared to in-vitro reactions due to the high specific heat of water which is found in the protoplasm

Fast Biochemical Reaction

biochemical reactions are usually mediated upon by enzymes which catalyzes a reaction

Orderly Biochemical Reaction

biochemical reactions follows a high degree order because of the cellular specialization with the organs of the body which are often observed

Chemistry

Chemistry VS Biochemistry?

STUDY COVERAGE

• Deals with the structure, properties, composition and the reactions a matter will undergo.

Biochemistry

Chemistry VS Biochemistry?

STUDY COVERAGE

• Deals with the structure, properties, composition and the reactions of molecule inside a living organism.

Chemistry

Chemistry VS Biochemistry?

BASIC UNIT

• ATOM is the basic unit of matter.

Biochemistry

Chemistry VS Biochemistry?

BASIC UNIT

• CELL is the basic structural and functional unit of life.

Cells

• basic unit of life or living organism

• highly organized and has a constant energy source to maintain order in the system

highly complex and structurally organized

Basic properties of a cell:

a. It is _________________________ to contain genetic information.

b. It is capable of ________________________________.

c. It acquires and utilizes energy to maintain _______________.

d. It engages in _______________________ activities in the body.

e. It senses and responds to ______________ in the surrounding environment.

a = ?

reproduction and self-regulation

Basic properties of a cell:

a. It is _________________________ to contain genetic information.

b. It is capable of ________________________________.

c. It acquires and utilizes energy to maintain _______________.

d. It engages in _______________________ activities in the body.

e. It senses and responds to ______________ in the surrounding environment.

b = ?

homeostasis

Basic properties of a cell:

a. It is _________________________ to contain genetic information.

b. It is capable of ________________________________.

c. It acquires and utilizes energy to maintain _______________.

d. It engages in _______________________ activities in the body.

e. It senses and responds to ______________ in the surrounding environment.

c = ?

mechanical and metabolic

Basic properties of a cell:

a. It is _________________________ to contain genetic information.

b. It is capable of ________________________________.

c. It acquires and utilizes energy to maintain _______________.

d. It engages in _______________________ activities in the body.

e. It senses and responds to ______________ in the surrounding environment.

d = ?

changes

Basic properties of a cell:

a. It is _________________________ to contain genetic information.

b. It is capable of ________________________________.

c. It acquires and utilizes energy to maintain _______________.

d. It engages in _______________________ activities in the body.

e. It senses and responds to ______________ in the surrounding environment.

e = ?

Carbohydrates

• found in plant cell wall (cellulose) and bacterial cell wall (peptidoglycan)

• serves as a source of energy

Lipids

• part of the cell membrane composition

• serves as a source of energy

Proteins

• vital role for structural integrity and function of cells

• aids in catalytic reactions (enzymes)

Enzymes

• speeds up chemical reactions

• uses enzyme markers to direct synthesis of necessary enzymes

Hormones and Neurotransmitters

• Depends on necessary enzymes for their synthesis

• serve as “signal” molecules to facilitate communication as a cellular level

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

serves as the energy currency of the cell

Cell Membrane

• A thin film of lipids (glycolipids, arachidonic acid, phospholipids) and proteins (glycoproteins) held together by non-covalent interactions.

• It serves as semi-permeable membrane to protect the cellular content.

• It compartmentalizes cellular content and acts as scaffold for biochemical processes.

• It facilitates cellular communication via external signals.

Mitochondria

• It contains its own DNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribosomes, and enzymes. It has porins (outer membrane) and cristae (inner membrane) that functions in energy production.

• It serves as the powerhouse of the cell.

• Generates ATP via carbohydrate and lipid breakdown.

Ribosomes

• It is made up of 2 components: small and large ribosomal units. The units are measured in Svedberg units (S).

• It serves as the site for protein synthesis by linking amino acids based on a mRNA template.

• Components: Eukaryote - 80S (40S, 60S), Prokaryotes - 70S (30S, 50S)

Endoplasmic Reticulum

• It is the largest cell organelle directly connected to the nucleus. It is made up of single-membrane tubules and sacs (cisternae).

• It manufactures and packages mature proteins and lipids for storage in vesicles

Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)

• made up of flattened sheets in the outer nuclear membrane. It has ribosomes at the cytosolic side of the membrane

• Site for protein synthesis via the ribosomes

• The ER cisternae holds the proteins for structural maturation.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER

• tubular in shape situated near the RER

• involved in lipid metabolism.

• It is also aids in protein metabolism, synthesis of neutral fat, phospholipids, and steroids.

• It also has roles in drug detoxification process

Golgi Apparatus

• “double-faced” organelle (cis/trans face

• It aids in the packaging and storage of cellular substances.

• It gathers simple biomolecules and packs them in vesicles creating more complex molecules.

Cis face

receives unmodified/immature proteins or lipids from ER

Trans face

releases mature/modified biomoleculespacked in vesicles

Lysosomes

• It is a spherical vesicle with hydrolytic enzymes responsible for the breakdown of obsolete /unused biomolecules in the cytoplasm.

• It serves as the “suicide bag” of the cell.

• It can releases hydrolytic enzymes and free radicals to target specific molecules and trigger APOPTOSIS (programmed cell death).

Nucleus

• It is the distinguishing feature between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

• It is composed of chromosomes (tightly coiled DNA), nucleolus (site of ribosomal assembly), nuclear membrane.

• It serves as the control center of the cell.

• It maintains cellular integrity and control cellular activities by regulating gene expression.

Chloroplast

• It is found among photosynthetic organisms

• It synthesizes its own amino acids, fatty acids, and lipid components for their membranes

• It harness solar energy for photosynthesis producing ATP.

• It also uses solar energy to convert CO2 and H2O into carbohydrates.

Vacuole

• It is present in plants cells and occupies about 90% of its cell volume.

• It contains enzymes for intracellular digestion.

• It stores nutrients, wastes, and specialized materials like pigments.

• It can participate in intracellular digestion of biomolecules

Peroxisomes

• It is a small membrane-enclosed organelle which houses enzymes for multiple metabolic reactions.

• It participates in production and decomposition of H2O2.

• It performs oxidative reactions for molecules like uric acid, amino acids, and fatty acids.

• In plants, it facilitates glyoxylate cycle and photorespiration.

Water

It is found in all cellular structures and is vital for the transfer of water-soluble (polar) substances via the blood as well as intra- and inter-cellular transfers.

High specific heat

Water is very important in the physiologic regulation of temperature as it:

• enables energy storage without increasing body temp.

High heat conductivity

Water is very important in the physiologic regulation of temperature as it:

• allows heat transfer from body interior to body surface

High latent heat of evaporation

Water is very important in the physiologic regulation of temperature as it:

• prevents quick evaporation resulting to overall cooling of body surface