BIOCHEMISTRY

PREPARED BY: VEVIRLY P. CORPUZ, RPh

Biochemistry

 The study of the chemical substances

found in living organisms and the
chemical interactions of these
substances with each other
 Water
BIOINORGANI (about 70%)
C Inorganic salts
SUBSTANCES (about 5%)
BIOCHEMIC
AL
Proteins
SUBSTANCE (about 15%)
S Lipids
BIOORGANIC (about 8%)
SUBSTANCES Carbohydrates
(about 2%)
Nucleic acids
(about 2%)

Mass composition data for the human body in terms of major types of
biochemical substance
 Three areas to study:

1. Structural and
functional Biochemistry

2. Informational
Biochemistry

3. Bioenergetics
 Tools to study biochemistry:

 Know chemical structures and reactivities of

molecules that participate in cellular reactions

 Know biological function of cellular molecules

 Know how all of the pieces and different

pathways fit together
Biomacromolecules

 Self-assembled into cellular structures and

complexes

 Recognizes and interact with one another in specific

ways to perform essential cellular functions

 Interactions are weak and reversible

 Molecules have three dimensions and shapes

ORGANISMS
Comparison of Prokaryotes and
Eukaryotes
Eukaryotic Cell Parts
(Structural Elements)
Eukaryotic Cell Parts
(Structural Elements)

 Outer layer of
cellulose or chitin; or
absent

Function
 Protection
 Support
Cytoskeleton

 Network of protein
filaments

Function
 Structural support
 Cell movement
 Flagella and Cilia
 Cellular extensions
 Flagella - a lash-like appendage
that protrudes from the cell body of
certain bacteria and eukaryotic cells
termed as flagellates
 Cilia - are slender protuberances
that project from the much larger
cell body. 

Function
Motility or moving fluids over surfaces
 Eukaryotic Cell Parts
(Plasma Membrane & Endomembrane System)
Plasma Membrane

 Lipid bilayer in which

proteins are
embedded

Functions
Regulates what passes
into and out of cell
Endoplasmic reticulum

 Network of internal
membranes

Functions
 Forms
compartments and
vesicles
 Participates in
protein and lipid
 Nucleus

 Structure surrounded
by double membrane
that contains
chromosomes

Functions
 Control center of cell
 Directs protein
synthesis and cell
 Golgi Apparatus

 Stacks of flattened
vesicles

Functions
 Packages proteins for
export from the cell
 Forms secretory vesicles
 Lysosomes

 Vesicles derived from golgi

complex that contains
hydrolytic digestive
enzymes

Functions
 Digest worn-out organelles
and cell debris
 Play role in cell death
 Peroxisomes

 Vesicles formed from

the ER containing
oxidative and other
enzymes

Function
 Isolate particular of
chemical activities from
of cell
Eukaryotic Cell Parts
(Energy-Producing Organelles)
 Mitochondria

 Bacteria like filaments

with double membrane

Function
 site of oxidative
metabolism
 Provides ATP for cellular
energy
 Chloroplast

 Bacteria-like organelles
found in plants and
algae
 Complex inner
membrane consists of
stacked vesicles

Functions
 Sites of photosynthesis
 Eukaryotic Cell Parts
(Elements of Gene Expression)
 Chromosomes

 Long threads of DNA

that form a complete
with protein

Functions
 Contain hereditary
information
Nucleolus

 Site of gene for rRNA

synthesis

Function
 Assembles
ribosomes
 Ribosomes

 Small, complex
assemblies of protein
and RNA
 Often bound to
endoplasmic reticulum

Function
 Sites of protein synthesis