Chapter 4: Chemical Composition of Cells

 Organics compound are large macromolecules that contains Carbon and Hydrogen

Importance of water

1) Support – Major component of protoplasm

– Provide support to non-woody plants (turgor pressure)
2) Moisten surface – moisture gaseous exchange structure to facilitate respiratory gas diffusion
3) Universal solvent – medium of biochemical reaction and transport medium in organisms
4) Lubricant – main components of mucin which lubricates movement of food in digestive
tracts
5) Maintain body temperature – water has high heat capacity which can buffer organisms
against rapid temperature changes

Carbohydrates

1) Contain elements : Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

2) General formula : (CH2O)n
3) The main classes of Carbohydrates
a. Monosaccharides :
i. Monomers of Carbohydrates
ii. Example : Glucose, Fructose, Galactose
b. Disaccharides :
i. Formed by condensation of two monosaccharides with removal of a
molecule of water
ii. Two monosaccharides units are bond via the formation of glycosidic bond.
iii. Example: Maltose, Sucrose, Lactose

iv. All monosaccharide and disaccharides (except for sucrose) are reducing
sugar.
v. Test for reducing sugar: Blue color of Benedict’s reagent or Fehling
solution will turn brick-red precipitate in presence of reducing sugar.

c. Polysaccharides:
i. Polymer synthesized from the condensation of monosaccharides by
process of polymerization
ii. Examples: Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose, Chitin

4) Function:
a. Provide energy in form of glucose. Energy is stored in form of Starch in
plants and glycogen in animals
b. Structural components in cells. For example, cellulose is found in plants;
and chitin is found in exoskeletons of insects.
Protein

1) Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen

2) Monomer: Amino acids
3) Amino acids are joined together by peptide bond.
4) Two molecules of amino acid combine to form dipeptides
5) Many molecules of amino acid combine to form polypeptide
6) Two type of Amino Acids:
a. Essential :- Cannot be synthesized by our body
b. Non-essential:- Can be synthesized by our body
7) Two class of protein:
a. First class proteins:- Protein that supple all the essential amino acids ( e.g.
meat, milk protein, eggs)
b. Second class proteins:- Protein that lacks of one or more essential amino
acids (e.g. graindm seeds, nuts)
8) Four level of protein structure
a. Primary structure : Linear sequence of amino acids
b. Secondary Structure : Protein coiled into either α-helix or β-pleeted (e.g.
keratin)
c. Tertiary structure : Coiled protein are folded to form globular protein (e.g.
hormones, antibodies, albumin)
d. Quartenary structure : More than one polypeptide chain are folded tp form
complex protein molecule (e.g. haemoglobin)
9) Function:
a. Component of protoplasm and plasma membrane
b. Structural protein such as keratin provide support
c. Storage protein such as albumin and casein provide amino acid for cell
growth
d. Transport protein such as haemoglobin transport molecules around body
e. Contractile protein such as actin and myosin allows movement
f. Enzyme catalyses chemical reaction
g. Hormonal protein coordinate metabolic reaction
h. Antibodies helps in defense mechanisms by destroying antigens

Lipids
1) Characteristic:
a. Naturally occurring organic compound
b. Soluble in non-polar organic solvent
c. Hydrophobic
d. Contain Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
2) Examples:
a. Fats and oils:
i. Stored energy (in adipose tissue) and Fat soluble vitamins (i.e
vitamins A,D,E,K)
ii. Fat synthesis: 3 fatty acids molecules each join to glycerol by an
ester linkage (a bond between a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl
group)
 Table: Differences between Saturated (Fats) and unsaturated (oils)

b. Phospholipids:-
i. Function: structural component of cell membranes
ii. Is similar to fat but has only 2 fatty acids attached to glycerol rather
than 3.
iii. The 3rd hydroxyl group of glycerol is joined to phosphate group,

c. Steroids :-
i. Examples: cholesterol and the sex hormones
ii. progesterone, testosterone and oestrogen regulate development of
sexual characteristics and gamate formation

d. Waxes:- provide protection for plants against water loss

Enzyme

1) Enzyme are biological catalysts that can increase the rate of a biochemical reaction

2) Two type of enzyme:

a. Intracellular Enzyme:- enzyme produce in cell and function within cell
b. Extracellular enzyme:- enzyme produce in cell but is secreted to function
outside cell
3) The production of extracellular enzyme
4) Factor affecting Enzyme activities

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Uses of enzyme in industry
Enzyme Uses

Amylase

Lipase

Protease

Cellulase

Zymase