Introduction To Cell Biology
Introduction To Cell Biology
Introduction To Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology
• ... is the study of biology at a molecular level.
• The field overlaps with other areas of biology, particularly genetics and
biochemistry
• Molecular biology concerns itself with understanding the interactions
between the various systems of a cell, including the interrelationship of
DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and learning how these interactions are
regulated.
Proteins Genes
Molecular Biology
Schematic relationship between biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
2
Molecular Biology
Organ systems
Organs
Tissues
Cells
HIERARCHY OF BIOLOGICAL
STRUCTURE
Components Involve in Molecular Biology
All Life depends on 3 critical molecules
DNA
RNA
Protein
Inside a Living Cell
Life alphabet
4 letters English alphabet
A, T, G, C 26 letters
Structure
Static
Function Function
Dynamic Dynamic
What is a Cell?
• Human nerve:
up to 1 meter
• n Human red blood cell:
~8 um
• n Bacteria: ~1 um
Why Must Cells Be Small?
Matthias Schleiden
The Cell Theory
• All organisms are constructed of and
by cells.
• All cells arise from preexisting cells.
• Cells are the functional units of life.
All biochemical processes are carried
out by cells.
• Groups of cells can be organized and
function as multicellular organisms
• Cells of multicellular organisms can
become specialized in form and
function to carry out subprocesses of
the multicellular organism.
Modern cell theory
1. All living things are made up of cells.
2. Cells are the basic units of structure and
function in living things.
3. Living things come only from other living
cells.
4. The cell contains hereditary information
which is passed on from cell during cell
division
3-18
Modern cell theory
3-19
Major events in the history of Molecular Biology
1800 - 1870
Johann Miescher
Major events in the history of Molecular Biology 1880
- 1900
Experiment
Major events in the history of Molecular Biology 1952
- 1960
1952-1953 James D.
Watson and Francis H. C.
Crick deduced the double
helical structure of DNA
James Watson and
Francis Crick
1956 George Emil Palade
showed the site of enzymes
manufacturing in the
cytoplasm is made on RNA
organelles called ribosomes.
1995 Moderate-resolution
maps of chromosomes 3, 11,
12, and 22 were published
These maps provide the
locations of “markers” on
each chromosome to make
locating genes easier
Major events in the history of Molecular Biology 1995-
1996
Next-generation sequencing –
genomes being sequenced by
the dozen
BASIC PROPERTIES OF CELLS
• Cells are highly complex and
organized.
• Cell possess a genetic program and
the means to use it.
• Cell are capable of producing more
of themselves.
• Cells acquire and utilize energy.
• Cells carry out a variety of chemical
reactions.
• Cells engage in numerous
mechanical activities.
• Cells are able to respond to stimuli.
• Cells are capable of self-regulation.
Highly Complex and Organized
• Prokaryotes
– Bacteria
(archaebacteria
and eubacteria)
• Eukaryotes
– Protist, Fungi,
Plants and
Animals
Prokaryotic
• Microvilli
– Finger-like
projections that
increase surface
area for
absorption
Figure 3.3
Plasma Membrane
Specializations
• Membrane
junctions
– Tight
junctions
– Desmosomes
– Gap junctions
Figure 3.3
Cytoplasm
• Ribosomes
– Made of protein and RNA
– Sites of protein synthesis
– Found at two locations
• Free in the cytoplasm
• Attached to rough
endoplasmic reticulum
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
– Fluid-filled tubules for carrying
substances
– Two types of ER
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
– Studded with ribosomes
– Site where building
materials of cellular
membrane are formed
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
– Functions in cholesterol
synthesis and breakdown,
fat metabolism, and
detoxification of drugs
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Golgi apparatus
– Modifies and packages
proteins
– Produces different types of
packages
• Secretory vesicles
• Cell membrane components
• Lysosomes
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Lysosomes
– Contain enzymes that digest non-
usable materials within the cell
• Peroxisomes
– Membranous sacs of oxidase
enzymes
• Detoxify harmful substances
• Break down free radicals
(highly reactive chemicals)
– Replicate by pinching in half
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Mitochondria
– “Powerhouses” of the cell
– Change shape continuously
– Carry out reactions where
oxygen is used to break
down food
– Provides ATP for cellular
energy
Vacuoles
• Membrane-bound sacs
for storage, digestion,
and waste removal
• Contains water solution
• Help plants maintain
shape
Chloroplast
• Usually found in plant
cells
• Contains green
chlorophyll
• Where photosynthesis
takes place
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Cytoskeleton
– Network of protein
structures that
extend throughout
the cytoplasm
– Provides the cell with
an internal
framework
Figure 3.7a
Cytoplasmic Organelles
• Cytoskeleton
– Three different types
• Microfilaments
• Intermediate
filaments
• Microtubules
Figure 3.7b–d
The Nucleus
Figure 3.1b
Nuclear Membrane
• Barrier of nucleus
• Consists of a double
phospholipid membrane
• Contain nuclear pores
that allow for exchange
of material with the rest
of the cell
Nucleoli
A DNA fragment of a few base pairs up to ≈20 kb can be inserted into a plasmidvector.
When such a recombinant plasmid transforms an E. coli cell, all the antibiotic-resistant
progeny cells that arise from the initial transformed cell will contain plasmids with the
same inserted sequence of DNA. The inserted DNA is replicated along with the rest of
the plasmid DNA and segregates to daughter cells as the colony grows. In this way, the
initial fragment of DNA is replicated in the colony of cells into a large number of
identical copies. Since all the cells in a colony arise from a single transformed parental
cell, they constitute a clone of cells. The initial fragment of DNA inserted into the
parental plasmid is referred to as cloned DNA, since it can be isolated from the clone of
cells.
Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants Against Pathogens causing Complicated
Urinary Tract Infections
Anjana Sharma,* S. Chandraker, V. K. Patel, and Padmini Ramteke
• Abstract
Abstract
Drosophila exhibits a circadian rest-activity cycle, but it is not known whether fly
rest constitutes sleep or is mere inactivity. It is shown here that, like mammalian
sleep, rest in Drosophila is characterized by an increased arousal threshold and is
homeostatically regulated independently of the circadian clock. As in mammals,
rest is abundant in young flies, is reduced in older flies, and is modulated by
stimulants and hypnotics. Several molecular markers modulated by sleep and
waking in mammals are modulated by rest and activity in Drosophila, including
cytochrome oxidase C, the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone protein BiP, and
enzymes implicated in the catabolism of monoamines. Flies lacking one such
enzyme, arylalkylamineN-acetyltransferase, show increased rest after rest
deprivation. These results implicate the catabolism of monoamines in the
regulation of sleep and waking in the fly and suggest that Drosophila may serve
as a model system for the genetic dissection of sleep.
ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF ALOE VERA (L.)
BURM.F TESTED IN RODENTS
NUZHAT SULTANA AND RAHILA NAJAM
• Abstract
• Aloe vera was evaluated for CNS activities in mice and
different behavioral activities for anxiety and depression were
tested on Exploratory activity, Open field test, Swimming –
induced Depression test, Stationary Rod, Cage Crossing and
Inclined Plane test. Aloe vera was administered orally in both
sexes of mice and was found to cause significant depression in
general as well as exploratory behavioral profiles. The results
revealed that Aloe vera caused reduction of Exploratory and
Locomotor activities along with the significant decrease in
traction in an inclined plane test. The results suggest that Aloe
vera may have anxiolytic potential with sedative action.
Micropropagation Studies of a Medicinal Plant Aristalochia indica
Theriappan, P., Saranya Devi, K. and Dhasarathan, P.
• Abstract:
The development of in vitro propagation of plants holds
tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-
based medicines. Aristalochia indica is used in traditional
remedy. In the present study, attempts have been made to
develop a simple, reliable and reproducible protocol for
micropropagation from different explants of Aristalochia indica.
Shoot tip and nodal segments showed elongation without
multiplication when either NAA or KIN was used in MS medium.
Shoot multiplication was obtained when cytokinins like BAP was
used. BAP alone also induced multiple shoots. The regenerated
individual shoots were rooted in MS medium containing 1 mg
dm-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated plants grew well
Tools for Biology
• In all experimental science, research in cell biology
depends on the laboratory methods that can be
used to study cell structure and function. Many
important advances in understanding cells have
directly followed the development of new
methods that have opened novel avenues of
investigation.
e.g. light microscopy, electron microscope,
Subcellular fractionation, animal cell and plant cell
culture
Light Microscope
• It is used to
visualized cells and
subcellular
structures that
helps determine the
intracellular
localization of
specific molecules.
Electron Microscopy
• It has a resolution
that is
approximately a
hundredfold
greater than that
of light microscopy.
This is used to
analyze details of
cell structure,
Subcellular Fractionation
• The organelles of
eukaryotic cells can
be isolated for
biochemical analysis
by differential
centrifugation.
Animal Cells in Culture
• The propagation of
animal cells in
culture has allowed
studies of the
mechanisms that
control cell growth
and differentiation.
Culture of Plant Cells
• Cultured plant
cells can
differentiate to
form specialized
cell types and,
in some cases
can regenerate
entire plants.
• References:
Cooper,G. (1997). The cell a molecular approach.
p 3-37
Karp, G. (2002).Cell and molecular biology.4th ed.
John Wiley and Sons Inc.