Biochemical Processes at

Cellular Level
by
IMMANUEL N. NDAWEDAPO
STUDENT NO. 201406404
LECTURER : DR. KANDAWA SCHULZE
Presentation outline

Introduction
Definition of biochemical processes
Types of biochemical processes at cellular level
Significance of studying biochemical processes
Types of biochemical processes at cellular level
Conclusion
References
Introduction

Organisms obtain their energy by breaking down complex high-energy

molecules
Autotrophs : can utilize sunlight as an energy source, e.g. Plants and
photosynthetic bacteria & protists.
Heterotrophs: consume organic matter to obtain energy, e.g. Animals,
fungi, non photosynthetic bacteria and protists.
High energy compounds i.e. carbohydrates, fat, proteins and alcohol are
broken down to lower energy products i.e. water, CO2 and O2.
Cellular chemical reactions can be exergonic( release energy ) aka
catabolic
Endergonic reactions (require energy ) aka anabolic.
Cellular level
biochemical
processes
The biochemical processes of the
cell are known as cellular respiration.
These are processes that constantly
convert biochemical energy from
nutrients into adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)
ATP is used to fuel cellular activity
Many of the reactions of cellular
respiration happen in the
mitochondria
Biochemical processes proceed
through a series of reactions that are
catalyzed by various specific
enzymes.
 Significance of
studying
biochemical
processes at cellular
level

Pre-requisite for metabolomics studies.

Contribute to the Understanding of
reactions involved by which cells
derive their energy.
Study the properties of
macromolecules, enzymes that
catalyze these chemical reactions
and their link to the endocrine system.
Types of Biochemical Reactions

Although there are many possible biochemical reactions, they fall into only a
few types to consider:
Oxidation and reduction: For example, the interconversion of an alcohol and an
aldehyde.

Movement of functional groups within or between molecules For example, the

transfer of phosphate groups from one oxygen to another.

Addition and removal of water: For example, hydrolysis of an amide linkage to

an amine and a carboxyl group.

Bondbreaking reactions: For example, carboncarbon bond breakage.

Cellular respiration

Energy needed to function is obtained from the food we eat. Cells harvest
energy in the form of ATP from these molecules through a catabolic
pathway
Cellular respiration refers to a set of metabolic reactions and processes that
take place in the cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from
nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste
products.
Cellular respiration occurs in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic
cells, with most reactions taking place in the cytoplasm of
prokaryotes and in the mitochondria of eukaryotes.
Divided into aerobic and anaerobic respiration. In aerobic
respiration, oxygen is essential for ATP production.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + ~38 ATP.
3 stages of cellular respiration (glycolysis, Krebs cycle and
electron transport oxidative phosphorylation)

Glycolysis
Involve the splitting of sugars. Glucose a 6 C sugar is split
into two molecules of a 3 C sugar.
Take place in the cell cytoplasm.
Yields two molecules of ATP, 2 molecules of pyruvic acid
and 2 NADH m
Glycolysis can occur with (aerobic) or without oxygen
(anaerobic respiration).
Fermentation produces lactic acid.
Citric acid cycle/ Krebs cycle

Also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle

begins after two molecules of the 3 Cs sugar produced
in glycolysis are converted to acetyl coA.
Takes place in the mitochondria matrix.
NAD and FAD molecules are reduced in the process to
NADH and FADH2
Carry high energy electrons to the next stage.
Cycle occurs only in presence of O2 but it doesnt use
oxygen directly.
Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation

Requires oxygen directly.

The electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes and
electron carrier molecules in mitochondrial membrane.
Through a series of reactions, the high energy electrons generated
in the Krebs cycle are passed to oxygen.
This generates a chemical and electrical gradient across the
mitochondrial membrane as H+ ions are pumped out of the
mitochondrial matrix and into the inner space.
ATP is ultimately produced by oxidative phosphorylation as
the protein ATP synthase uses the energy produced by the electron
transport chain for the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. Most ATP
generation occurs during the electron transport chain and oxidative
phosphorylation stage of cellular respiration
Photosynthesis

A process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy,

normally from the Sun, into chemical energy that can be later released to
fuel the organisms' activities (energy transformation).
Photosynthesis equation: 6H2O + 6CO2 sunlight energy C6H12O6 +
6O2
Light dependent reaction: inputs include sunlight, water, NADP, ADP and
PI, outputs are oxygen, ATP and NADPH. Occurs in grana.
Light independent, occurs in stroma, and does not need light but NADPH
and ATP from previous stage, needs CO2 and H+ ions.
Chemical processes involved are such as the carbon reduction and Calvin
cycle before glucose is finally made.
Conclusion
References

[1] Jellinex M. Biochemical processes in

cells, Pubmed, (published on 25 Apr, 2011),
2 (125) 25 - 40.
[2] Harper A. E, Elvehjem C. A. A Review of
the effect of different Carbohydrates on
Vitamins and Amino acid requirements.
University of Berkeley, California. 5, 754
758.
[3] Brody T. Nutritional Biochemistry (1994),
2nd edt. Academic Press. pp.121 -123.
END..

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