Molecular and cellular biology

D. Gurarie

BiochemistryBasic components:

proteins, hydrocarbons, lipids, nucleic acids, other Basic processes:

Metabolism: building (assembling, disassembling) intra/extra cellular components, removal of waste products.Energy transfer. Energy is typically stored in large molecules like ATP, or polymers (polysaccharides, lipids, proteins)

Catabolism: break-up of polymers into monomers (monosaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids), the excess energy being stored (ADP-> ATP) Anabolism synthesis of polymers from monomers (requires energy from ATP)

Signaling and cellular function/control (activation, proliferation, death)Neural transmission

Many metabolic (and other biochemical) processes are controlled by ultra-efficient catalysts – enzymes (complex proteins)

Example: ADT-ATP kinetics

ATP kinetics and structure

Anabolism

Catabolism