Module 1: Introduction
we fasting or skip meals, the stored
to Biochemistry
• The organization of life is also included in
which the cell is the smallest unit of life.
• The important parts of the cell and some other
components of the cell which the structures
and their functions together with the presence
of non-living molecules like the
macromolecules used to maintain the body
homeostasis.
• The two types of the cells are included the
prokaryotes and eukaryotes and how they
differ for each other.
Overview About Biochemistry
• Biochemistry deals with the study of
chemical processes of living organisms and
these are closely related to molecular biology,
the one that studies molecular mechanisms of
DNA, stores genetic information.
• Biochemistry is a tool to investigate
molecular biology and it is the one that
bridges the gap between chemistry and
biology.
• Living organisms are made up of structures,
which are able to react against stimulus, able
to reproduce, adapt to environment, grow, and
react to maintain the homeostasis.
• Biomolecules like lipids, carbohydrates,
proteins, and nucleic acids are needed of
every living organism in order to survive life.
o These macromolecules are necessary
to a cell structure and perform their
functions made up of complex
molecules known as polymers made
up of monomer subunits.
• Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are the
major fuels of the living organisms which are
obtained from the diet and are stored in the
body for future use.
o The three food macromolecules are
used after digestion, and absorption of
food.
o After a meal the food we ingested is
used for fuel in order to meet the
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energy needs during fight or flight, as
o
energy is used, the glycogen.
In prolonged fasting like during
starvation, the fuel stores are
converted into kinetic energy in order
to survive.
Branches of Biochemistry
1. Structural Biochemistry - is a branch of
biochemistry that deals with the study of
chemical architecture pertaining to biological
macromolecules including proteins and
nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
2. Bio-organic Chemistry - is a branch of
biochemistry that deals with the study of
organic compounds (example carbon-carbon
or carbon- hydrogen covalent bonds).This is a
branch of biochemistry related to classical
biochemicals that gives information to
understand biological processes based on
their structure, chemical bonds, molecular
interactions and how organic molecules react.
3. Enzymology - is a branch of biochemistry
that deals with the study of biological
catalysts or enzymes like certain proteins and
catalytic RNA and with coenzymes and
cofactors like metals and vitamins.
4. Metabolic Biochemistry - is a branch of
biochemistry which is able to know the
different types of metabolic pathways of the
cell. It also studies cellular chemical reactions
that make it possible to have healthy organic
biochemical indices, the molecular basis of
molecular diseases or the intermediate flows
globally.
5. Xenobiotics - is a branch of biochemistry that
deals with the study of metabolic behavior of
compounds which is the chemical structure
not in a proper with regular metabolism.
Pharmacology uses an application by using a
substance for diagnosis, prevention, to treat
and aids to relieve symptoms of a disease to
be less invasive and more effective opposing
specific to the target substances.
6. Immunology is on how an organism reacts
with other organisms like in bacteria and
viruses. The study deals with the development
and behavior studies of antibody production.
7. Endocrinology- is the study of the internal
secretions known as hormones produced by
 specialized cells that affect the function of Cells and its Organization
other cells.
8. Neurochemistry- study about organic
molecules used for neural activity which is
being used for neurotransmitters and many
others such as neuro-active drugs used for
neural function.
9. Chemotaxonomy - studies the classification
and identification of bodies based on their
differences and similarities at their chemical
composition. The study about phospholipids,
proteins, peptides, glycosides, alkaloids, and
terpenes.
10. Chemical ecology - study about chemical
compounds in relation to biological origin • The cell is the smallest unit of life. There are
that involves interactions of living organisms. trillions of cells inside the human body. Cells
It deals with the production and response to are the basic unit of living organisms and are
signaling molecules and compounds used for
able to replicate. These cells are made up of
survival and other organisms' reproduction. DNA. Which the genome is the total DNA of
11. Virology and areas of biology which are the cell. Individual units of heredity control
being used to study elementary biosystems the traits by coding for functional protein, the
which are viruses. It deals with recognizing RNA. Many cells build tissue, these tissues
the potential drugs and vaccines in order to build organs and many organs to form an
prevent it either directly or expansion. organ system.
12. Molecular genetics and Genetic • The one that first discovered cells in 1665 was
engineering deals with the study of genes, Robert Hook. The Latin word for cell is cella
heritage and expression. It deals with the meaning small rooms.
study of DNA and RNA that uses tools and
• The theory of cell was first developed in 1839
powerful techniques like PCR and its variants by Matthias Jakob Schleiden and Theodore
used for mass sequencers, translation and Swann, states that all organisms are made up
transcription by extracting DNA and RNA of one or more cells which comes from
which is either in vivo and in vitro, and preexisting cells, within the cell the vital
restriction enzymes. DNA ligases are being functions occur which all cells are made of
used if the DNA is replicated, transcribed and heredity information which are used for cell
translated through protein synthesis. functions regulating and transmit information
13. Molecular biology is a scientific discipline to the next cell generation.
that deals with the study of processes that
happen in living organisms. It deals with the
behavior of biological macromolecules like
the DNA, RNA, enzymes, hormones and
many others inside the cell and tells about its Types of Cells
biological functions.
• There are two types of cells. These are the
14. Cell biology deals with the study of the
morphology and physiology of prokaryotic prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotes (pro-before and karyon-nucleus) made
up of single celled organisms, closed, circular
molecules of DNA include bacteria and archaea
without the presence of nucleus or any other bound
organelle.

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 o The DNA in prokaryotes is found at the
central part of the cell known as nucleoid
which is directly located in the cytoplasm as
it allows the DNA able to contact with the cell
membrane.
Eukaryotic On the other hand, the eukaryotic cell
(the “true nucleus”, a single cell or a multicellular cell
and the examples are the animal cells, plants cells,
fungi, and protists.
• The Archaea (eukaryotes) and bacteria
(prokaryotes) both have cell walls which are
made of peptidoglycan made up of sugars
and amino acids and with polysaccharide
capsules.
• There are some prokaryotes with flagella, pili
or fimbriae.
o This flagella is being used for
locomotion, pili to exchange genetic
material during reproduction which is
known as conjugation.
• Prokaryotic cells are smaller compared to
eukaryotic cells. Because of the small size of
prokaryotes, ions and organic molecules
allow them to move quickly and spread to the
other parts of the cell as the wastes produced
move out the cell.
• On the other hand, larger eukaryotic cells are
different. Because of their size, in order to
enhance cellular transport, they need to have
different structural adaptations. As this cell
becomes larger, they have difficulty acquiring
sufficient materials to process inside the cell
because the relative size declines to transport
on the surface area across the membrane.
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Structural Biochemistry / Cell Organelles
• Structural biochemistry has an important
role in the functions of the cell organism.
Through the structures and functions of the
various parts and the presence of four large
macromolecules such as lipids,
carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids which
are essential components of the cell in order
to perform and maintain the homeostasis.
• Organelles refer to “little organs” and these
organelles have their specialized cellular
functions like the organs inside the human
body with specialized functions.
o Organelles are the components of the
cell used for proper survival of the cell
and its propagation.
What are the most important organelles?
Nucleus is the most important eukaryotic organelle.
Nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear double membrane
(nuclear envelope) which is the nucleolus as the most
prominent feature which is rich in RNA.
o The RNA is synthesized with the
DNA template in the nucleolus in
order to export into the cytoplasm
through opening of the nuclear
membrane.
o The main eukaryotic genome (DNA)
is duplicated before cell division.
o Genes are responsible to transmit the
inherited traits, which are found inside
the DNA which is found in each
chromosome.
Mitochondrion the second important eukaryotic
organelle is the mitochondrion (plural, mitochondria)
like the nucleus with a double membrane.
• The outer membrane of the mitochondria is
called a cristae that exhibits many folds. The
matrix which is the space within the inner
membrane.
o Oxidation happens inside the
mitochondria in order to yield more
energy to the cell which enzymes are
necessary for these chemical
reactions.
 o The DNA which is differ found inside
the nucleus, found at the internal
mitochondrial matrix.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which is attached
to the cell membrane and to the nuclear envelope.
Which occur into two forms which are the rough and
smooth ER.
o The rough endoplasmic reticulum
with the presence of ribosomes bound
to the membrane and these ribosomes
are found freely in the cytosol, the
liquid found inside the cells which
organelles, proteins, and other
structures of the cell float, sits during
protein synthesis in every organism.
o The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is
not bound with ribosomes.
What are some other important components of
cells?
Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane)
• The cell membrane is the one that surrounds
the cell in which the cytoplasm of the cell is
surrounded by this membrane.
• Plants a eukaryote and bacteria a prokaryote
cover with a cell wall aside from the cell
membrane.
• The cell membrane is made up of double layer
lipids (hydrophobic fat-like molecules) and
hydrophilic molecules of phosphorus known
as phospholipid bilayer which is also known
as fluid mosaic membrane.
• Plasma membrane having different protein
molecules used as channels and pumps in
order to move in and out of the cell.
o It is a semi-permeable membrane
which ions or molecules are able to
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pass through freely but limited, extent
or not to pass through the cell.
• The cell surface membrane is also made up of
receptor proteins let to detect the external
signaling molecule like hormones.
Golgi Apparatus
• The golgi apparatus (Golgi Complex), a
membrane- bound organelle appearing as the
series of flattened, membrane sacs, looks like
a stack of pancakes in the rough endoplasmic
reticulum.
o The golgi apparatus is like a post
office or a warehouse for the newly
formed proteins used to transport,
modify, and package proteins and
lipids with the target destination.
Peroxisomes
• Peroxisomes made up of enzymes which are
used to remove hydrogen atoms came from
the substrates.
• Hydrogen peroxide is created if the free
hydrogen atoms bind with oxygen.
• Peroxisome is important in the liver because
it detoxifies harmful compounds.
Lysosomes
• Lysosomes are membranous sacs which are
used to hydrolyze macromolecules used for
intracellular digestion.
• The single-celled organism is the case of
amoeba, which uses the lysosome to digest
food products through phagocytosis.
o Phagocytosis happens among humans
used to defend or destroy the bacteria
or invaders.
• Lysosomes are used to recycle the own
material of the cell which is known as
autophagy.
o Damaged organelles are broken down
in the lysosome and the organic
monomer is go back into the cytosol
to reuse. In this way the cell is
constantly renewing itself.