Biochemistry is the study of life at the molecular level, examining the structure, organization and functions of living organisms. It seeks to understand life through studying biological molecules like proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. The cell is the basic unit of life, and biochemistry examines both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Cells contain complex biological molecules that carry out essential functions through various organelles and biochemical pathways.

1. INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY
What is Biochemistry?
Biochemistry -is the study of life on a
molecular level.

2. Biochemistry can be divided into three areas
of study
 Conformational-structure and three-
dimensional arrangements of biomolecules.
 Metabolism–energy production and
utilization
 Informational-language for
communication inside and between cells

3.  Biochemistry seeks to describe the structure,
organization, and function of living organisms in
molecular terms
 In order to understand the life on the
molecular level, you mustfirst have a:
 •Knowledge of the chemical structures of the biological molecules
 •Understanding of the biological function of the molecules
 •Understanding of bioenergetics –the study of energy
flow in cells

5. Biochemistry is a Research
Discipline Applicable to Real
World
 Medicine –Clinical
 Diagnose and monitor diseases
* Scurvy, Phenylketonuria,Kwashiorkor, Diabetes,
Cholera*
 Designer Drugs
 –New and Improved antibiotics
 –New and Improved chemotherapy agents

6.  Protein Diseases
 Agriculture
 •Herbicides and Pesticides
 Transgenic crops
 Industry
-Synthesis
-Detoxification

7. CHAPTER 1- THE LIVING CELL
The cell
-is the structural and functional unit of all
known living organisms.
- smallest unit of an organism that is
classified as living, and is often called the
building bricks of life .
*ORIGIN OF THE CELL

8. History OF THE CELL:
 1632 – 1723: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
 1665: Robert Hooke
 1839: Theodor Schwann and
Matthias Jakob Schleiden
 1855: Rudolph Virchow (omnis cellula ex
cellula).
 1953: Watson and Crick made their first
announcement on the double-helix
structure for DNA on February 28.

9. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE CELL:
1. Eukaryotic cell
-with true nucleus
-contain membrane-bound
compartments in which specific
metabolic activities take place.
2. Prokaryotic cell
- no defined-nucleus
-simpler than the nucleus

10. Diagram of a prokaryotic cell

11. Diagram of a typical eukaryotic cell

12. Basis Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
Typical bacteria, archaea protists, fungi, plants, animals
organisms
Typical size 1-10 µm 10-100 µm (sperm cells,
apart from the tail, are
smaller)
Cytoplasmatic very few structures highly structured by
structure endomembranes and a
cytoskeleton
Cell movement flagella made of flagella and cilia containing
flagellin microtubules
Mitochondria None one to several thousand
Binary fission (simple division) Mitosis (fission or budding)
Meiosis

13. TYPES OF EUKARYOTIC CELL
Basis: Animal Cell Plant cell
1.Nucleus + +
2. Mitochondria + +
3. ER + +
4. GA + +
5.Cytoplasm + +
6. Membrane Plasma Cell wall
membrane
7.Lysosomes + +
8. Centrioles + +
9. Chloroplast - +
10.Vacuole + +

15. Biological composition of the cell

16. BIOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CELL
Organelles FUNCTIONS
Nucleus Control center; genetic information
Mitochondria Produces ATP thru cellular respiration
Ribosomes Site for protein synthesis
ER SER-lipids synthesis; RER-CHON
synthesis
Vacuoles Storage and Excretion
Membrane Regulation and Tranportation
Cilia/Flagella Movement
Lysosomes Cellular digestion

17. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE LIVING
CELL
H, O, C and N make up 99+% of atoms in the human body
ELEMENT PERCENTAGE
Oxygen- 63
Hydrogen -25.2
Carbon- 9.5
Nitrogen -1.4
•Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen and Nitrogen comprise over
99% of the mass in most cells
•These elements are the backbone of
biomoleculesbecause they are capable of forming strong
covalent bonds
*Chemical Reactions that occur inside the cell are the same
that occur outside the cell*

18. Biological Macromolecules of the living cells
4. Nucleic Acids-that store and transmit
genetic information
5. Proteins- Transportation; Storage;
Defense mechanisms
6. Polysaccharides-Insulation and
Regulation of heat

20. Biological Micromolecules
 Nucleotide (RNA/DNA)- Nucleic Acids
 Amino acid- Protein
 Simple sugars-Carbohydrates
 Fatty acids, Glycerol etc.- Lipids

21. Organelles Biochemical Systems
Nucleus - Nucleic acids, Protein and Lipids
Ribosomes - RNA and Proteins
Lysosomes -Proteins (enzymes)
Membranes Lipids, Protein, Carbohydrates
Golgi Protein, lipids, carbohydrates
Apparatus
Mitochondria Proteins, lipids, Carbohydrates,
nucleic acids

22. PHYSICAL BIOCHEMICAL METHODS
(ORGANELLES)
4. EXTRACTION
5. HOMOGENIZATION
6. CENTRIFUGATION