Living Cell an introduction

LIFE IS CELLULAR
Life is complex and dynamic:
All organisms are primarily composed of organic molecules that have intricate, three
dimensional shapes.
Living processes, such as growth and
development, involve thousands of
chemical reactions in which vast quantities
and varieties of vibrating and rotating
molecules interact, collide, and rearrange
into new molecules.
Life is organized and self-sustaining:
Living organism are hierarchically
organized systems; that is, each level is
based on the one below.
The molecules that make up living
organism -> biomolecules -> subatomic
particles!

-The are oldest form of life on earth: 3.8 billion years

- Until 1.8 billion years ago they were only form of life
- If you combine all the cell mass of eukaryotic animals still it is
ten fold less than prokaryotes
- They are everywhere!

Archaea:
The archaea were only recognized as distinct group of organisms in 1977 when
Carl woese analyzed specific nucleic acid molecules.
A prominent features of many of the archaea is their capacity to occupy and even
thrive in very challenging habitats. Referred as extremophiles
Eukarya:
Presence of nucleus alone is not only he difference with bacteria
1. Size: Eukaryotic cells are substantially larger than prokaryotic cells
2. Complexity: Structural complexity of eukaryotes s remarkable. With
compartmentalization or organelles they perform specialized tasks.
3. Multicellular: With development of intricate inter cellular communications
they have multicellularity.

Virus!

Almost of all the other kinds f molecules

in living organism are organic made of six
elements
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Sulfur with trace amounts
of certain metallic elements

Functional groups in Biomolecules:

Biomolecules can be considered to be derived from simple hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons
Are carbon-hydrogen containing molecules.

Chemical properties of these derivative molecules are determined by specific

arrangement of functional groups.

Most bimolecules contain more than one functional group

e.g., amino acid building block of proteins contain both amino group and carboxyl
group

Metabolism

Anabolic

Building block
Simple sugar
Amino acid
Nucleotide
Fatty acid

Macromolecule
Polysaccharide
Protein (peptide)
RNA or DNA
Lipid

Catabolic
10

Primary function of metabolism:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Acquisition and utilization of energy

Synthesis of molecules for cell structure and functioning
Growth
Removal of waste products

Though complex,
Reactions types are few
Are simple organic reactions catalyzed by one enzyme
Most of the important pathways are conserved across the species

Reaction types:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Nucleophilic substitution
Elimination
Addition
Isomerization
Oxidation-reduction

Nucleophilic substitution:

Here A is called nucleophillic nucleus

lover attacks B Electrophilies, forming a
new bond.
Outgoing X is called leaving group

Hydrolysis reactions:
Kind of nucleophilic substiution reaction in which the oxygen of a water molcule
Serve as the nucleophile. He electrophile is usually the carbonyl group of an
Ester, amide or anhydride.

Example: Hydrolysis f ATP

Elimination reaction:
A double bond is formed as atoms in a molecule are removed

Removal of water is commonly encountered reaction.

Other products include

NH3, amides RNH2, alcohols
ROH

Addition reactions:
In addition reaction two molecules combine and form a single product.
e.g., hydration is one of the common addition reaction. When water is added to alkene
An alcohol results.

Isomerization: Intermolecular shift of atoms or molecule

Oxidation-reduction reactions:

1. Oxidation has occurred if a molecules gains a oxygen or losses a hydrogen

2. Reduction has occurred if a molecules losses a oxygen or gains a hydrogen

Who came first

- DNA?
- PROTEINS?

Evolution of Biomolecules

14000 years ago

Modern human history starts

Prebiotic Evolution
Biomolecules first arose on the planet by chemical
evolution
This process of chemical evolution can be simulated in the
laboratory
The classical experiment of Urey and Miller (1953)
combined mixtures of atmospheric gases (methane,
ammonia, water, and hydrogen) along with electrical
sparks
The resulting gas phase had carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, and the starting materials
The water layer had organic compounds, amino acids,
hydroxy acids, aldehydes, and hydrogen cyanide

Some amino acids could be produced:

 Addition of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide

to the starting materials led to the formation of hundreds
of organic compounds
Amino acids, mono-, di-, and tri- carboxylic acids, fatty
acids, adenine, and formaldehyde
Formaldehyde can polymerize to form sugars made of 3, 4,
5, and 6 carbons
Nucleotides and small peptides also form
Other sources of energy such as x-rays and UV radiation
led to the development of even more compounds

Three theories about evolution of biomolecules

First & oldest

compounds resulted from electric discharges
and ultraviolet irradiation
Second
the basic components of living organisms were
formed in space outside the orbits of large
planets and transferred to the Earths surface

Third, at oceanic crust

water overheated to 400C containing strongly
reducing FeS, H2, and H2S met cool water
containing CO2