Cell Biology

BIOL1020/BIOL7020
Prof Kate Stacey Learning objectives for today’s activities:
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
1. To compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells as the
basic units of life
Week 1: What are cells made of? 2. To describe the monomeric and polymeric units that comprise the
basic building blocks of cells
3. Explain how the structure of carbohydrates can provide a variety of
functions for the cell.

Readings: Campbell Biology 12th Ed Ch 1 (1.1-1.3), Ch5 (5.1-5.5) Keywords: domains of life, eukaryote, prokaryote, monomer, polymer, carbohydrates, bonds

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What does a cell need as basic functions of life? All cells have cell membranes
• Made up of lipid bilayers
-

• Something to enclose the cellular contents • Hydrophilic (“water-loving”) heads

-

on outer and inner edges of

• The ability to control the flux of molecules membrane
between inside and the outside environment
• Hydrophobic tail (“water-fearing”)

vaguel
• An internal matrix for molecules to -

in middle of membrane
move/float around in
• Is semi-permeable – small
• Components that can perform jobs within hydrophobic molecules easily pass
a

the cell hydrophil

~ through the lipid bilayer, but not
a

- hydrophi hydrophilic; Protein channels or

• The ability to utilize energy
transporters allow many nutrients,
• Heritable genetic information ions and waste products in and out
of the cell.
Figure 6.6

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1
 Cell Biology

All cells need to utilize and store energy

All cells need to utilize and store energy

Figure 8.12
stored bown
energy
phosphate gops
• One of the most common stores of energy is ATP – Adenosine triphosphate
-
Figure 1.9
• Contains chemical energy in the bonds between 3 phosphate groups
Energy and matter flow from one organism to another using respiration and photosynthesis. • After breaking down nutrients, energy is converted to ATP
• When ATP broken down to ADP (1 P removed), this energy can be released and used
More on this in week 3

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X nucleus

& evnuciens
What different types of cells exist? Prokaryotes What different types of cells exist? Eukaryotes

The word eukaryote which comes

from the Greek eu- (good/true),
and karyon (nut or kernel),
referring to the cell nucleus.

Figure 6.5

The word prokaryote comes from the Greek pro- (before) + karyon (nut or kernel),
referring to the lack of a cell nucleus
Figure 6.8

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 Cell Biology

Different organisms have different types of cells

Similarity: All cell types have membranes
Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell -enkaryotes
Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell

Figure 6.5 Figure 6.8 (i) Figure 6.8 (ii)

Plasma Membrane:･encloses cell･separates contents from surroundings

First, let’s look at the similarities between these cell types ･phospholipid bilayer･5-10 nanometers thick･contains embedded proteins

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Similarity: All cell types have proteins, carbohydrates,

Similarity: All cell types have cytoplasm lipids and nucleic acids
Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell

↳
protins that engen
Protein (the workhorses, e.g. enzymes, but also structural proteins) and
Cytoplasm:･semi-fluid matrix･contains chemicals of cell･ carbohydrates (the energy source)
sugars･amino acids･proteins･contains organelles in eukaryotes

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3
 Cell Biology

Building blocks of cells: Proteins Building blocks of cells: Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates serve as fuel and structural material

• A protein consists of one or more polypeptides • Glucose – monosaccharide

(polymers of amino acids)
• Can be linked to other sugars to
form disaccharides and
• Amino acids polysaccharides
– Are organic molecules possessing both carboxyl • These bonds are glycosidic
and amino groups linkages – can happen between
Figure 5.4
– Differ in their properties due to differing side different carbons along sugar ring
chains, called R groups Glucose can interchange between linear and ring forms

More detail on the structures of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and

DNA in the online learning activities for weeks 1-2.

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Difference: Eukaryotic cells have internal membranes that allow them to

compartmentalise cellular processes Difference: Eukaryotic cells have their DNA inside a membrane

Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell Bacterial cell Animal cell Plant cell

DNA DNA
Internal Membranes Nuclear Membrane

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 Cell Biology

Building blocks of cells: Nucleic Acids Nucleotides: monomers of nucleic acids

• Nucleotides: nitrogenous base, a

• There are two types of nucleic acids sugar, and a phosphate group.
– Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
– Ribonucleic acid (RNA) • Nitrogenous base can be Adenine (A)
Thymine (T), Guanosine (G) or
Cytosine (C)
• Central Dogma of molecular biology
– Flow of information is generally: • When nucleotides are strung together
in sequence, the order of A, T, G, and
DNA RNA Protein C dictates the genetic code.

(viruses present some exceptions to this – RNA conversion to Figure 5.23

DNA, and RNA replication)
More detail on the structures of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and
Figure 5.22 DNA in the online learning activities for weeks 1-2.

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Figure 6.2

Difference: Eukaryotic and

bacterial cells are different in size

• Bacterial cells: 1 – 5
μm in diameter

• Eukaryotic cells: 10 –
100 μm in diameter c) Domain
Eukarya

Figure 1.13

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 Cell Biology

All cells are believed to have originated from a common

universal ancestor Key concepts from this lecture
Prokaryotic cells

1. Evolution of all life from a universal ancestor explains both the commonality
and diversity across living organisms
2. The cell is the basic unit of life, and can come in different shapes and sizes.

3. Biological molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids.

All except lipids are polymers.

Eukaryotic cells

Believed to be ~2.8 billion years ago

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