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Physical Cell BiologyLecture 4: Basic cellular functions and molecular interactions.

Chapter 2 in PBC, Overview of many chapters in Pollard

A Physical Description of cells?

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Molecular mechanisms

Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules

+

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Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules

+A + B ó AB

Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules

A + B ó AB

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Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions

+ +

Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions

+ +A + B ó C + D

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Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly

Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly

wikipedia

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Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly 4. Passive translocation of molecules and their

parts (thermal random motion)

Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly 4. Passive translocation of molecules and their

parts (thermal random motion)

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Molecular mechanisms 1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly 4. Passive translocation of molecules and their parts

5. Active translocation of molecules and their parts

Science 27 Jun 2003:

Cellular constituents move by diffusion, pumps and molecular motors

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Molecular mechanisms

1. Binding of molecules2. Biochemical reactions3. Self assembly 4. Passive translocation of molecules and their

parts5. Active translocation of molecules and their

parts

Basic cellular functions

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code

Duplication of DNA

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Translation and Transcription of the Genetic Code

Scale drawings of the gene, mRNA, polypeptide and folded structure of a small protein, profilin

Space-filling modelRibbon diagram showing the folded polypeptide

Fig. 1-4Copyright 2008 by Saunders/Elsevier. All rights reserved.

Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic code

2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building

blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes

Assembly of cellular structures from molecules

Fig. 1-5

Copyright 2008 by Saunders/Elsevier. All rights reserved.

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes

4. Metabolism (energy processing)

Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building

blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes4. Metabolism (energy processing)5. Information acquisition, processing and

transmission (signaling)

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Information acquisition and processing (e.g. receptor based signaling pathways)

Fig. 1-8

Copyright 2008 by Saunders/Elsevier. All rights reserved.

The need of information to find the right destination

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes4. Metabolism (energy processing)5. Information acquisition, processing and

transmission (signaling) 6. Cell adhesion

Cell adhesion

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes4. Metabolism (energy processing)5. Information acquisition, processing and

transmission (signaling) 6. Cell adhesion7. Cell motility

Cell motility

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes4. Metabolism (energy processing)5. Information acquisition, processing and

transmission (signaling) 6. Cell adhesion7. Cell motility8. Cell cycle (birth and death of a cell)

Birth, grow and death of a cell (the cell cycle)

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Basic cellular functions1. Storage, duplication and execution of genetic

code2. Production (Synthesis) of cellular building blocks3. Assembly of larger molecular complexes4. Metabolism (energy processing)5. Information acquisition, processing and

transmission (signaling) 6. Cell adhesion7. Cell cycle (birth and death of a cell)