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Introduction to Molecular Biology

By

Dr Anjana Bhatia

Head, PG Deptt of Botany

HMV, Jalandhar

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  1. Basics of molecular biology
  2. Transcription
  3. Translation
  4. Regulatory pathways
  5. DNA and diseases
  6. Biotechnology

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Basics of molecular biology

I. The Cell’s Organization

II. Cell Cycle and Cell Division

III. Cellular Molecules

IV. The Genetic Dogma

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The Cell’s Organization

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Cell is the basic unit of life

PROKARYOTES

EUKARYOTES

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A plant cell

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The animal cell

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A bacterium

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The Main Functions of the Membrane-bounded

Compartments of a Eukaryotic Cell

Compartment

Main Function

Cytosol

contains many metabolic pathways

protein synthesis

Nucleus

contains main genome

DNA and RNA synthesis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

synthesis of most lipids

synthesis of proteins for distribution to many organelles and plasma membrane

Golgi apparatus

modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins and lipids

for either secretion or delivery to another organelle

Lysosomes

intracellular degradation

Endosomes

sorting of endocytosed material

Mitochondria

ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation

Chloroplasts (in plant cells)

ATP synthesis and carbon fixation by photosynthesis

Peroxisomes

oxidation of toxic molecules

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Compartimentation of the eukaryote cell:

various organelles

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Cell nucleus

Contains genetic information: DNA

Nucleolus:

Ribosome building machine

Protein factories

in the cytoplasm

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Each human cell contains 46 chromosomes (except sperm or egg cells)

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Chromosomes

in a cell that is about to divide

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Mitochondria:

factories of energy

glucose

O2

Pi

ADP

ATP

H2O

CO2

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The endoplasmic reticulum

smooth (metabolism+synthesis of lipids)

rough (protein synthesis)

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The Golgi apparatus

cis

trans

medial

→ processing of secretory proteins

→ sorting cellular proteins

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Inside the cytosol:

the cytoskeleton

  • “microtubules”
  • maintainance of cell shape and mobility
  • ancor for other cellular structures

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Presentation:

DNA

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Cell Cycle and Cell Division

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Some Eukaryotic Cell-Cycle Times

Cell Type

Cell-Cycle Times

Early frog embryo cells

30 minutes

Yeast cells

1.5-3 hours

Intestinal epithelial cells

about 12 hours

Mammalian fibroblasts in culture

about 20 hours

Human liver cells

about 1 year

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The eukaryotic cell cycle

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Separation of sister chromatides during mitosis

(mitosis = normal cell division)

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Microtubuli:

assist chromosomes during cell division (mitosis)

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Different stages of the M phase during cell division (mitosis)

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The three DNA sequence elements needed to produce a eukaryotic chromosome that can be replicated and then segregated at mitosis

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Kinetochores and kinetochore microtubules

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Gametogenesis: meiosis

(= specialized form of cell division giving rise to sperm and egg cells)

Meiosis I

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Meiosis I (continued)

Meiosis II

Cell division without DNA replication

Haploid cell

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