Medical Biochemistry Molecular Principles of Structural Organization of Cells

MAJOR CHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF THE LIVING ORGANISMS

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIVING ORGANISMS

In the human organism there are 70 elements of the Periodic Table, which may be divided in four groups:
Macrobiogenic elements (>1%) Oligobiogenic elements (0,1-1%) Microbiogenic elements (<0.01%) Ultramicrobiogenic elements (10-4-10-6%) O, C, N, H, Ca, P. Na, K, Cl, S, Mg, Fe. Zn, Mn, Co, Cu, F, B, I. Li, Al, Si, Cd, Cr, Ni.

They are constituents of organic and inorganic compounds.

Exception: The oxygen molecular form, besides being bound to hemoglobin or myoglobin, is dissolved in biological fluids. There are other gases (nitrogen, inert gases) which are partly dissolved in the biological liquids but do not take part in the biochemical processes

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIVING ORGANISMS

Organic compounds. Different cells can vary in the content of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides, for example:
Liver and muscle cells are rich in polysaccharides Fat tissue cells are rich in lipids Animal cells are rich in proteins and rather depleted in nucleic acids as compared with plant cells

The water content is different

40% in plant cells, fat cells 99% in medusa

Inorganic compounds are in small number but have vital functions in the organism

LEVELS OF MOLECULAR ORGANIZATION OF CELL

Cell
Cellular organelles (nuclei, mitochondria,etc)

Enzymes complexes, ribosomes, nucleoli, contractile system

Conjugated proteins: Glycoproteins, Lipoproteins, Phosphoproteins, Nucleoproteins, Metalproteins, Chromoproteins

Polyglucides

Lipids Fatty acids Alcohols

(glycerol, sterols, sphingosine

Proteins (apoenzymes) Aminoacids

Nucleic acids

Components of protein macromolecules (heme, coenzymes)

Monoses

Mononucleotides

Intermediary metabolites

Inorganic compounds

WATER
Is indispensable for life due to its unique physical and chemical properties and importance for biological activity of living organisms Content 45-75% of the total body mass
depends on age (new born 75%, >50years 45-50%) the content varies depending on the metabolic processes in the specified tissue (10% in the fat tissue, 65-70% in other tissues, 80% in the blood and kidney) maintained at the necessary level through intake (2 liters/day) or produced in the metabolic processes (0.3 liters/day)

Distribution:
In the cells (intracellular) Outside the cells extracellular fluids (12-16%), blood plasma (5%), lymph (2%) Within closed cavities (intra-cavity water)(1-3%): cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular, pericardial, synovial fluid etc

WATER
Functions:
Dissolution and stabilization of biological molecules and ions in the fluids of the organisms Heat balance control - uptake, conservation, distribution and release of heat Transport supply of nutrients and excretion of waste products Mechanical (by hydration) assistance in maintaining intracellular pressure and shape of cells Structural forming an interlayer between the polar ends of protein and lipids in biological membranes Synthetic (anabolic) substrate in the synthesis of biological compounds Hydrolytic (catabolic) substrate in the bond-breaking processes Energetic (electron donating)

The cell functions are dependent on:

The total amount of intra and extracellular water Hydration of sub-cellular structures Aqueous microenvironment of macromolecules

INORGANIC IONS
Ions Cations Na+ K+ Ca2+ Mg2+
Total

Plasma (%) 92.2 3.0 3.0 1.3

100%

Extracellular (%) 94.0 2.7 2.0 1.3

100%

Intracellular (%) 7.5 75.0 2.5 15.0

100%

Anions

ClHCO3PO32-

69.0 17.0 1.4

76.0 19.3 1.4

7.5 5.0 50.0

SO42organic protein
Total

0.6
2.0 10.0
100%

0.7
2.0 0.6
100%

10.0
2.5 25.0
100%

INORGANIC IONS
Functions
Bioelectric functions development of potential difference across the cell membrane (neurons, muscle cells) Osmotic functions control of osmotic and hydro-osmotic pressure Structural metal ions constituents of macromolecules (proteins, heme) Regulatory cations exert regulatory action
directly binding to enzymes, influencing their activity and rate of the chemical reactions in the cell, or Indirectly, influencing the hormonal regulation

Transport
electrons are transported by the cytochromes, enzymes containing Fe2+ or Fe3+ and Cu2+; oxygen is bound to Fe2+ in the structure of hemoglobin

Energetic inorganic phosphate in ATP Mechanical (support) Ca and P ions are constituents of bones (strength) Synthetic complex molecules contain I- (hormones), SO42- (ester sulfuric compounds)