M4 Biochemical Process

L1 Processes in Biochemical System

L2 Transport Processes
Biochemical Processes
 Biochemical processes are the chemical processes
that occur in living organisms, involving biomolecules.

 One of the first biochemical processes studied was

alcoholic fermentation: the conversion of sugars into
cellular energy with ethanol (alcohol) and carbon
dioxide as by-products.

 Other examples: photosynthesis, cellular respiration,

anabolic and catabolic processes
Transport Processes

Movement of Substances across cell membranes

 Passive Transport Process
◦ Gradual spreading out of molecules from areas of
greater concentration to areas of lesser concentration
(or movement down its concentration gradient) to
cross the membrane using its own kinetic energy
◦ No cell energy in the form of ATP is needed
◦ Ex. diffusion , osmosis
Transport Process
Simple Diffusion
 passive movement of a substance down its
concentration gradient through the lipid bilayer of the
plasma membrane without the help of membrane
transport proteins.
 Substances transported through simple diffusion are non
polar hydrophobic solutes like O2, CO2, nitrogen gases,
fatty acids, steroid, fat soluble vitamins, and polar
molecules such as water, urea and small alcohols.
Transport Process
Facilitated Diffusion
 passive movement of a substance down its concentration
gradient through the lipid bilayer by transmembrane
proteins that function as channels or carriers.
 Substances transported through facilitated diffusion are
polar or charged solutes like glucose, fructose, galactose,
some vitamins, and ions such as K+, Cl-, Na+, and Ca+2.
Transport Process
Active Transport Process
 Movement of substance against a concentration gradient
 Requires cellular energy in the form of ATP and a carrier
protein
 Ex. Na+ - K+ exchange pump, exocytosis, endocytosis

 Endocytosis is the process of capturing a substance or particle from

outside the cell by engulfing it with the cell membrane, and bringing it into
the cell. Exocytosis describes the process of vesicles fusing with the plasma
membrane and releasing their contents to the outside of the cell.
Transport Process
Sodium-Potassium Pump
 Acts in all cells to maintain higher K+ concentration inside
and higher Na+ concentration outside
 K+ concentration is 20 – 50 times greater inside than
outside while Na+ concentration is 10 times more
concentrated outside than inside.
 Outward pumping of Na+ is linked to inward pumping of K+,
same carrier molecule is used for both
 10 to 40% of all energy produced by the cell is used for the
Na+-K+ exchange pump
Transport Process
A. Dialysis
◦ The separation of smaller molecules from larger molecules
or of dissolved substances from colloidal particles in a
solution by selective diffusion through a semi permeable
membrane.
◦ A purification technique for proteins and other
macromolecules
◦ Based on the principle of osmosis and diffusion
◦ Ex. hemodialysis
Transport Process
 A. Dialysis
Transport Process
Test on Dialyzate
1.Test for Chloride
Dialyzate + AgNO3 → AgCl (white ppte, +result)
2. Test for the Peptide Bond
Dialyzate + NaOH + CuSO4
→ blue colored solution (negative result)
Formation of violet-pink colored solution ( +result)
Transport Process
3. Test for amino acid
Dialyzate + ninhydrin → blue-violet colored solution
(positive result for amino acid)
Transport Process
Transport Process
B. Diffusion
 movement of ions from area of higher concentration to
area of lower concentration until a homogenous solution is
obtain
Transport Process
Factors affecting the Rate of diffusion
1. Temperature
↑ Temperature, ↑ rate of diffusion.
2. Concentration
↑ Concentration, ↑ rate of diffusion
3. Pressure
↑ Pressure, ↑ rate of diffusion
Transport Process
Transport Process
C. Osmosis
 movement of H2O molecules from area of higher solvent
concentration to area of lower solvent concentration.
Transport Process
 Isotonic solution (0.9% NaCl)
◦ solution having the same solute concentration as that of the
blood cells.
 Hypotonic solution (0.1% NaCl)
◦ solution having higher solvent concentration than that of the
blood cells.
 Hypertonic solution (2% NaCl)
◦ solution having lower solvent concentration than that of the
blood cells.
Transport Process
 RBC in isotonic solution, size remain the same
 RBC in hypotonic solution, size increases, swelling takes place (hemolysis)
 RBC in hypertonic solution, cells shrink (crenation)
Transport Process
D. Lowering of Surface Tension
 Surface Tension is a measure of the inward force exerted by
inner molecules on the surface molecules. It is directly
related to the strength of intermolecular forces between its
molecules

Molecules at the surface form

stronger bonds
Surface Tension
 Inorganic Salts increase surface tension
 Bile acids and soaps decreases surface tension
 Experimental result:
margarine + bile → margarine dissolved
margarine + soap → margarine dissolved
margarine + Na2CO3 → margarine did not dissolved
Transport Process
Transport Process
 BILE
◦ contains bile acids which are critical for digestion
and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamin in
the small intestines
◦ bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid,
produced by the liver of most vertebrates and
stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is
discharged into the duodenum
Transport Process
 The amphipathic nature enables bile acids
to carry out two important function
Transport Process
 Emulsification of lipid aggregates: Bile acids have
detergent action on particles of dietary fat which causes fat
globules to break down or be emulsified into minute,
microscopic droplets. Emulsification is not digestion per se,
but is of importance because it greatly decreases the
surface area of fat, making it available for digestion by
lipases, which cannot access the inside of lipid droplets.
Transport Process
 Solubilization and transport of lipids in an aqueous
environment: Bile acids are lipid carriers and are able to
solubilize many lipids by forming micelles - aggregates of
lipids such as fatty acids, cholesterol and monoglycerides -
that remain suspended in water. Bile acids are also critical
for transport and absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins.
Transport Process
E. Hydrolysis
 Splitting of molecules with the aid of water
 Amylase – enzyme found in saliva and in pancreatin solution;
Aids in the hydrolysis or digestion of carbohydrates
 Pancreatin – a substance containing enzymes,principally
amylase, lipase, and protease; Obtained from pancreas of
hog
Transport Process
Experimental Result:
 Unhydrolyzed starch – blue with iodine solution
 Partially hydrolyzed starch – violet with iodine solution
 Macaroni placed in pancreatin solution and in saliva are
softer than macaroni in Na2CO3
 Macaroni placed in pancreatin solution and in saliva are
violet in color
Transport Process
Module 4