by
Manahil Ibrahim Shogar
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Biochemistry
12th/09
09//2022
Introduction to Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of molecular basis of life.
It
It is important to know biochemistry so as to understand
and maintain normal health and to know how to treat
disease.
Biochemistry is the science concerned with the study
of chemical constituents of living cells
(biomolecules),, the basic units of life…what is life?
What dose the Biochemistry discuss?
Structure and function of cellular components:
- proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other
biomolecules
Metabolism and Regulation
Gene expression and modulation
DNA RNA Protein
What do you need to know about Biochemistry?
– Nursing Students: through learning biochemistry , should
deal with two central concerns of the health sciences:
(1)) the understanding and maintenance of health.
(2)) the understanding and effective treatment of disease.
Biomolecules
1- carbohydrates
2- lipids
3- proteins
4- nucleic acids
5- vitamins
6- water
7- minerals
Objectives of Biochemistry
The major objective of biochemistry is the complete under-
under
standing at the molecular level of all processes associated with
living cells.
Explanation of muscle contraction and movement at the molecular
level ..actin and myosin are proteins.
Another objective of biochemistry is to attempt to understand how
life began (evolution).
Life
Life is based on chemical reactions in living cells.
We
We want to know these reactions, the reacting molecules, their
nature, properties,, in which form we get them from the
environment, how do they gain access to our cells, their effect
on cell growth and cell division and differentiation…
All activities of living organisms..
organisms thinking.. emotions..
What
What happens if we have imbalance or disturbance
of normal biomolecules……?
Diseases
utrients Required
Nutrients are chemical substances
essential for growth and maintenance
of normal cell.
About 45-50 chemical substances are
known to be essential or required by
the human for maintenance of health.
Biochemical
ochemical techniques improved knowledge in many aspects o
physiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, cancer and
pathology.
Improved life stock and crops
Biological
Biological and chemical warfare
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is involved in all life sciences: physiology, micro-
biology, veterinary, pharmacology, agriculture, oncology,
pathology, immunology, medicine….
medicine
Nutrition,
Nutrition, Cell biology, molecular biology, and molecular
genetics, recombinant DNA technology are considered as
branches or developments within biochemistry.
Biochemistry and Medicine
Biochemistry helped in elucidation of molecular causes
of thousands of diseases; sickle cell, inborn errors of
metabolism...
Nutrition and balanced diet.
Disease
Disease diagnosis; scurvy deficiency of vitamin C.
Definition of Nutrition and Food
Nutrition:
Nutrition: Concerns the food people eat and how their bodies use
it for growth and to maintain body tissues and provide energy.
Food:
Food: is defined s any substance, usually composed of carbohy-
carbohy
drates, fats, water and proteins that can be eaten or drunk by
human for nutrition.
Nutrients:
Nutrients: substances in foods that your body needs to grow, to
repair, and to provide energy.
Sickle Cell Anemia
The Cell
What is a Cell?
The Types of Cells
Examples of Cells Types
The Organelles and Their Functions
Definition of Cell:
The cell is the universal structural and functional unit of all forms
of life.
The Cell
Basic building blocks of life.
Smallest living unit of an organism
A cell may be an entire organism (unicellular) or it may be on
of billions of cells that make up the organism (multicellular).
Grow,
Grow, reproduce, use energy, adapt, respond to their
environment.
Types of Living Cells:
Cells May be Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic:
Prokaryotes (Greek: pro-before;
before; karyon-nucleus) include various
bacteria
- lack a nucleus or membrane--bound structures called organelle
Eukaryotes (Greek: eu-true; karyon-nucleus)
karyon include most other
cells (plants, fungi, & animals)
- have a nucleus and membrane-bound
membrane organelles.
Molecular Composition of Cell
Water
Water accounts for about 70-75%
% of the weight of the cell.
Organic Compounds
. Organic compounds accounts for 25-30% of the cell weight.
. They are nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides (carbohydrates)
nd lipids.
3.. Other low molecular weight compounds may account for 4% of
cell weight. They are monosaccharides, aminoacids, 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.
Prokaryotic Cell Eukaryotic Cell
- Cell membrane & cell wall - Cell Membrane
- Nucleoid region contains the DNA - Nucleus
- Contain ribosomes (no membrane) - Cytoplasm with organelles
haracteristic Bio-membranes
membranes and Organelles
•Plasma Membrane-Cell’s
Cell’s defining boundary
Providing a barrier and containing transport and signaling systems.
•Nucleus – Cell’s Information Center
contains genetic material
• Mitochondria- the power generators
Functions in energy production through metabolism. Contains its own DNA.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) – The transport network for molecule
•Rough
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER):
(RER Covered with ribosom
(causing the "rough" appearance)
appearance
•Ribosomes
Protein and RNA complex responsible for protein synthesis
•Smooth
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)
A site for synthesis and metabolism of lipids.
•Golgi apparatus -process
process and package the macromolecu
• Lysosomes-contain
contain digestive enzyme
•A
A membrane bound organelle that is responsible for degrading
proteins in the cell.
• Cytoplasm
enclosed by the plasma membrane, liquid portion called cytosol and it
houses the membranous organelles.
Cell wall : protects the cell and gives shape (A cell wall is found
in plants, algae, fungi, & most bacteria).
Chloroplast : conduct photosynthesis
Vacuole : storage, secretary, excretory
Comparison between Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells
Cell Structure Prokaryotic Cell Typical Animal Eukaryotic Cell
Cell membrane Yes yes
Cell wall yes no
Centrioles no yes
Endoplasmic reticulum No Yes (some exceptions)
Golgi complex No Yes
Lysosomes No yes
Mitochondria No Yes
Peroxisomes No yes
Ribosomes Yes Yes
References:
1- Harper`s Biochemistry.
2- Stryer Biochemistry.
3- Lehninger Biochemistry.
4- Devlin Biochemistry.
5- Medical Biochemistry.