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Lesson 2 (Cells and Macromolecules)

The document provides information on cells and cell classification. It discusses that cells are the basic structural and functional units of life, and can be unicellular like bacteria or multicellular like plants and animals. It then classifies cells based on their size, structure, temperature and oxygen requirements. The document also describes the macromolecules that make up cells, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. It discusses how these macromolecules are constructed from smaller monomers like amino acids, nucleotides, monosaccharides and fatty acids. The document concludes by covering cell nutrition requirements in terms of macro and micronutrients, and the use of defined and complex growth media for culturing cells.

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Seun Oyekola
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29 views

Lesson 2 (Cells and Macromolecules)

The document provides information on cells and cell classification. It discusses that cells are the basic structural and functional units of life, and can be unicellular like bacteria or multicellular like plants and animals. It then classifies cells based on their size, structure, temperature and oxygen requirements. The document also describes the macromolecules that make up cells, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. It discusses how these macromolecules are constructed from smaller monomers like amino acids, nucleotides, monosaccharides and fatty acids. The document concludes by covering cell nutrition requirements in terms of macro and micronutrients, and the use of defined and complex growth media for culturing cells.

Uploaded by

Seun Oyekola
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BES470S: BIOPROCESSING 4 & ENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABILITY
2020
CELLS & MACROMOLECULES

Lecturer: Prof Seun Oyekola ([email protected])


Teaching Assistant: Mr Tunde Oladipo ([email protected])
CELL: UNIVERSAL BUILDING BLOCK OF
LIFE
Cell: The cell (from Latin cella, meaning “small room”) is the basic structural, functional
and biological unit of all known living organisms. Cells are the smallest unit of life that
can replicate independently, and are often called the “ building blocks of life”

• Living organisms are made of cells


• Simplest living organisms are single-celled (Unicellular) e.g. Bacteria
• Larger organisms consist of many cells (Multicellular) with different functions e.g.
Plant and animal cells
CELL: CLASSIFICATION
• Microbes: can be classified on different basis
• 1. Broad Classification Occurrence
Prokaryotes
bacteria
Eukaryotes
plants, animals, fungi, algae,
protozoa etc
Size between 0.1 and between 10 and 100
5.0 micrometers micrometers (µm)
(µm)

Structure • simple  • complex


• do not have a • contain a cell membrane,
nucleus cytoplasm and a nucleus
• No organelles • Have organelles e.g.
mitochondria &
endoplasmic reticulum
CELL: CLASSIFICATION
• 2. Growth Conditions
• A. Temperature
°C
Psychrophiles grow best at low
temperatures (below 20°C)

Mesophiles temperature optima in the


range of 20°to 50°C
Thermophiles grow best at temperatures
greater than 50°C
CELL: CLASSIFICATION
• 2. Growth Conditions
• B. Oxygen
O2 Presence
Aerobes only respire aerobically and
cannot survive in the absence
of oxygen

Anaerobic respire anaerobically and can


only grow in the absence of
oxygen
Facultative can adapt to growth either
with or without oxygen
CELL: CLASSIFICATION
• 2. Growth Conditions
• C. pH

pH
Acidophile 1 - 5.5
Neutrophile 5.5 - 8.5
Alkaliphile 8.5 - 11.5
CELL CONSTRUCTION
CELL CONSTRUCTION
Living cells are composed of high-molecular-weight polymeric compounds
(macromolecules) such as proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides & lipids 

Amino acids Glucose Fatty acids Nucleotides

Peptides

Proteins Polysaccharides Lipids Nucleic Acids

DNA RNA
CELL CONSTRUCTION
Macromolecules Descriptions & Functions
Proteins • Most abundant organic molecules
• Proteins are largely enzymes (proteins that act as catalysts).
Carbohydrates • Structural role (as in cellulose) or can be used as a cellular
reserve of carbon and energy (as in starch).
Lipids • Serve as biological fuel-storage molecules.
• Lipids are critical in the construction of cellular membranes
Nucleic Acids • Play the central role in reproduction of living cells
• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stores and preserves genetic
information. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) plays a central role in
protein synthesis
CELL NUTRITION
• Most of the products formed by organisms are produced as a result of their response
to environmental conditions, such as nutrients, growth hormones, and ions.

• The maintenance of cellular integrity requires the selective uptake of nutrients

• The qualitative and quantitative nutritional requirements of cells need to be


determined to optimize growth and product formation.
CELL NUTRITION
Nutrients required by cells can be classified in two categories:
1. Macronutrients are are used in large amounts (concentrations larger than 10-4M).
Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, Mg2+ , and K+ are major
macronutrients.

2. Micronutrients are needed in are used in low concentrations (less than 10-4M). Trace
elements such as Mo2+ , Zn2+ , Cu2+ , Mn2+, Ca2+ , Na+, vitamins, growth hormones, and
metabolic precursors are micronutrients
Growth Media
A growth medium or culture medium is a solid, liquid or semi-solid synthesised to
support the growth of microorganisms or cells.

Two major types:


1. Defined media: contain specific amounts of pure chemical compounds with known
chemical compositions. A medium containing glucose, (NH4 )2 SO4, KH2 PO4 , and
MgCl2 is a defined medium.
2. Complex media: contain natural compounds whose chemical composition is not
exactly known. A medium containing yeast extracts, peptone, molasses, or corn steep
liquor is a complex medium.
Growth Media
Defined Complex
Growth Yield results in lower cell yields results in higher cell yields

Cost of production More expensive less expensive

Process • The operator has better Not reproducible


reproducibility control of the fermentation
• Process is the results are
more reproducible
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
1. What are the main physicochemical conditions required or needed to be considered for cell growth?
2. What are the roles each macromolecule play in cells?
3. Name the monomers that make up each macromolecule found in cells?
4. Why do extremophiles find industrial applications?
5. An organism that can grow using oxygen as an electron acceptor and can also grow and metabolize in the
absence of oxygen is called facultative, True/ false?
6. You are asked to develop a medium for production of an antibiotic. The antibiotic is to be made in large
amounts (ten 100,000 L fermenters) and is relatively inexpensive. The host cell is a soil isolate of a
fungal species, and the nutritional requirements for rapid growth are uncertain. Will you try to develop a
defined or complex medium? Why?
7. Briefly compare prokaryotes with eukaryotes in terms of internal structure and functions.
References
1. Bioprocess Engineering Basic Concepts (Second Edition) by Michael L. Shuler
and Fikret Kargi

2. Bioprocess Engineering: Kinetics, Sustainability, and Reactor Design (Third


Edition) by Shijie Liu

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