FOUNDATIONS OF BIOMOLECULES

Biochemistry – Describes in molecular terms the

structures, mechanisms, and chemical processes
shared by all living organisms and provides
organizing principles that underlie life in all of its
diverse forms.

Cellular Foundations
Universal Features of Living Cells
1. Plasma membrane – with lipid and protein
molecules
–hydrophobic barrier
–passage of inorganic ions and most
charged/polar particles
–receptor proteins transmits signals into the
cells
2. Cytoplasm – with cytosol, the aqueous solution
– contains enzymes, RNA molecules, amino
acids, nucleotides, metabolites, coenzymes,
ribosomes, and proteasomes
– Metabolites - organic molecules
– Coenzymes - compounds essential for
enzyme-catalyzed reactions
– Ribosomes - site of protein synthesis
– Proteasomes - degrades proteins no longer
needed by the cells
3. Nucleus/ Nucleoid – storage of genetic material
–nucleoid (bacteria and archaea)
–nuclear membrane (eukaryotes)
–prokaryotes (without the nuclear envelopes)

Subcellular fractionation – Separation of organelles

from the cytosol by differential centrifugation
–For investigating structures and functions
–Developed by Albert Claude, Christian De
Duve, and George Palade
 Chemical Foundations

Biomolecules – are Compounds of Carbon with a

Variety of Functional Groups
• Formation of bonds (single, double, triple,
tetrahedron
• Covalently linked (linear and branched
chains, cyclic structures)
• Most are derivatives of hydrocarbons (H
atoms replaced by a variety of functional
groups)
• Examples: alcohols, amines, aldehydes and
ketones, carboxylic acids
• Polyfunctional: with 2 or more types of
functional groups

Cells – contain a Universal Set of Small Molecules
• Metabolites: different small organic
molecules in the cytosol
• Types: amino acids, nucleotides, sugars and
their phosphorylated derivatives, and
mono-, di-, and tricarboxylic acids
• Polar/charged, water soluble
• Secondary metabolites: plants (morphine,
quinine, nicotine, and caffeine)
• Metabolome: entire collection of small
molecules in a given cell
Macromolecules – are the major constituents of
cells
• Macromolecules: polymers with molecular
weights above 5,000
• Oligomers: shorter polymers
• Types: Proteins, nucleic acids, and
polysaccharaides (MW: 500 or less)
Proteins
• Long polymers of amino acids
• Largest fraction of the cell
• Types: enzymes, structural, signal receptors.
Transporters
• Proteome: sum of all proteins functioning in
a given cell
Nucleic acids
• DNA and RNA: polymers of nucleotides
• Stores and transmit genetic information
• RNA: structural, catalytic roles in
supramolecular complexes
Polysaccharides
• Polymers of simple sugar (glucose)
• Major Functions:
1. Energy-rich fuel stores
2. Rigid structural components of the cell wall
3. Extracellular recognition elements
• Oligosaccharides: attached to
proteins/lipids, for cellular signals
Lipids
• Water- insoluble hydrocarbon derivatives
• Structural components of membranes
• Energy-rich fuel stores
• For pigments
• Intracellular signals