The chemical composition of plant and animal cells is very similar, which indicates the unity of their origin. More than 80 found in cells chemical elements.

The chemical elements present in the cell are divided into 3 large groups: macronutrients, mesoelements, microelements.

Macronutrients include carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. Mesoelements are sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron. Trace elements - zinc, iodine, copper, manganese and others.

Biologically important chemical elements of the cell:

Nitrogen - structural component of proteins and NA.

Hydrogen- is a part of water and all biological compounds.

Magnesium- activates the work of many enzymes; structural component of chlorophyll.

Calcium- the main component of bones and teeth.

Iron- enters into hemoglobin.

Iodine- part of the thyroid hormone.

Substances of the cell are divided into organic(proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, ATP) and inorganic(water and mineral salts).

Water makes up to 80% of the mass of the cell, plays important role:

water in the cell is a solvent

transfers nutrients;

water is removed from the body harmful substances;

high heat capacity of water;

Evaporation of water helps to cool animals and plants.

Gives elasticity to the cell.

Minerals:

participate in maintaining homeostasis by regulating the flow of water into the cell;

Potassium and sodium ensure the transport of substances across the membrane and are involved in the occurrence and conduction of a nerve impulse.

Mineral salts, primarily calcium phosphates and carbonates, give hardness to bone tissue.

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Proteins, their role in the body

Protein- organic substances found in all cells, which consist of monomers.

Protein- high molecular weight non-periodic polymer.

Monomer is an amino acid (20).

Amino acids contain an amino group, a carboxyl group and a radical. Amino acids are linked together to form a peptide bond. Proteins are extremely diverse, for example, there are over 10 million of them in the human body.

The diversity of proteins depends on:

1. different AK sequence

2. by size

3. from composition

Protein structures

The primary structure of a protein - a sequence of amino acids connected by a peptide bond (linear structure).

The secondary structure of a protein - spiral structure.

Tertiary structure of a protein- globule (glomerular structure).

Quaternary protein structure- consists of several globules. Characteristic of hemoglobin and chlorophyll.

Protein properties

1. Complementarity: the ability of a protein to fit in shape to some other substance like a key to a lock.

2. Denaturation: violation of the natural structure of the protein (temperature, acidity, salinity, addition of other substances, etc.). Examples of denaturation: changes in protein properties when eggs are boiled, protein transfer from liquid state into solid.

3. Renaturation - restoration of the protein structure, if the primary structure has not been disturbed.

Protein functions

1. Building: the formation of all cell membranes

2. Catalytic: proteins are catalysts; accelerate chemical reactions

3. Motor: actin and myosin are part of muscle fibers.

4. Transport: transfer of substances to various tissues and organs of the body (hemoglobin is a protein that is part of red blood cells)

5. Protective: antibodies, fibrinogen, thrombin - proteins involved in the development of immunity and blood coagulation;

6. Energy: participate in plastic exchange reactions to build new proteins.

7. Regulatory: the role of the hormone insulin in the regulation of blood sugar.

8. Storage: the accumulation of proteins in the body as reserve nutrients, for example, in eggs, milk, plant seeds.

The cell is the elementary unit of the structure of living organisms. All living things - be it humans, animals, plants, fungi or bacteria - are basically cells. In someone's body there are a lot of these cells - hundreds of thousands of cells make up the body of mammals and reptiles, and in someone there are few - many bacteria consist of only one cell. But the number of cells is not as important as their presence.

It has long been known that cells have all the properties of a living thing: they breathe, feed, multiply, adapt to new conditions, and even die. And, like all living things, cells contain organic and inorganic substances.

Much more, because it is also water, and of course, the largest part of the department called "inorganic substances of the cell" is given to water - it makes up 40-98% of the total volume of the cell.

Water in the cell performs many important functions: it ensures the elasticity of the cell, the speed of chemical reactions taking place in it, the movement of incoming substances through the cell and their removal. In addition, many substances dissolve in water, it can participate in chemical reactions, and it is water that is responsible for the thermoregulation of the whole organism, since water has good thermal conductivity.

In addition to water, the inorganic substances of the cell also include many minerals divided into macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients include substances such as iron, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, carbon, phosphorus, calcium and many others.

Trace elements are, for the most part, heavy metals such as boron, manganese, bromine, copper, molybdenum, iodine and zinc.

Also in the body there are ultramicroelements, including gold, uranium, mercury, radium, selenium and others.

All inorganic substances of the cell play their own, important role. So, nitrogen is involved in a great variety of compounds - both protein and non-protein, promotes the formation of vitamins, amino acids, pigments.

Calcium is a potassium antagonist and serves as a glue for plant cells.

Iron is involved in the process of respiration, is part of the hemoglobin molecules.

Copper is responsible for the formation of blood cells, heart health and good appetite.

Boron is responsible for the growth process, especially in plants.

Potassium ensures the colloidal properties of the cytoplasm, the formation of proteins and the normal functioning of the heart.

Sodium also ensures the correct rhythm of cardiac activity.

Sulfur is involved in the formation of some amino acids.

Phosphorus is involved in the formation of a huge number of essential compounds, such as nucleotides, some enzymes, AMP, ATP, ADP.

And only the role of ultramicroelements is still absolutely unknown.

But the inorganic substances of the cell alone could not make it complete and alive. Organic matter is no less important than they are.

These include carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, pigments, vitamins, and hormones.

Carbohydrates are divided into monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Mono-di- and polysaccharides are the main source of energy for the cell and the body, but water-insoluble oligosaccharides stick together connective tissue and protect cells from adverse external influences.

Lipids are divided into proper fats and lipoids - fat-like substances that form oriented molecular layers.

Enzymes are catalysts that speed up biochemical processes in the body. In addition, enzymes reduce the amount of energy consumed to impart reactivity to the molecule.

Vitamins are necessary for the regulation of the oxidizability of amino acids and carbohydrates, as well as for full growth and development.

Hormones are necessary to regulate the life of the body.

As we already know, the cell consists of chemical substances organic and inorganic types. The main inorganic substances that make up the cell are salts and water.

Water as a component of life

Water is the dominant component of all organisms. Important biological functions of water are carried out by unique properties its molecules, in particular the presence of dipoles that make possible occurrence hydrogen bonds between cells.

Thanks to water molecules in the body of living beings, the processes of thermal stabilization and thermoregulation occur. The process of thermoregulation occurs due to the high heat capacity of water molecules: external temperature changes do not affect temperature changes inside the body.

Thanks to water, the organs human body retain their elasticity. Water is one of the main components of the lubricating fluids necessary for the joints of vertebrates or the pericardial sac.

It is included in the mucus, which facilitates the movement of substances through the intestines. Water is a component of bile, tears and saliva.

Salts and other inorganic substances

The cells of a living organism, in addition to water, contain such inorganic substances as acids, bases and salts. Most importance in the life of the body have Mg2+, H2PO4, K, CA2, Na, C1-. Weak acids guarantee a stable internal cell environment (slightly alkaline).

The concentration of ions in the intercellular substance and inside the cell can be different. So, for example, Na + ions are concentrated only in the intercellular fluid, while K + is found exclusively in the cell.

A sharp reduction or increase in the number of certain ions in the composition of the cell not only leads to its dysfunction, but also to death. For example, a decrease in the amount of Ca + in the cell causes convulsions inside the cell and its further death.

Some inorganic substances often interact with fats, proteins and carbohydrates. So a prime example is organic compounds with phosphorus and sulfur.

Sulfur, which is part of protein molecules, is responsible for the formation of molecular bonds in the body. Thanks to the synthesis of phosphorus and organic substances, energy is released from protein molecules.

Calcium salts

Calcium salts contribute to the normal development of bone tissue, as well as the functioning of the brain and spinal cord. Calcium metabolism in the body is carried out due to vitamin D. Excess or lack of calcium salts leads to dysfunction of the body.

All organisms on our planet are made up of cells that are similar in chemical composition. In this article, we will briefly talk about the chemical composition of the cell, its role in the life of the whole organism, and find out what science studies this issue.

Groups of elements of the chemical composition of the cell

The science that studies the constituent parts and structure of a living cell is called cytology.

All elements included in the chemical structure of the body can be divided into three groups:

• macronutrients;
• trace elements;
• ultramicroelements.

Macronutrients include hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Almost 98% of all constituent elements fall on their share.

Trace elements are available in tenths and hundredths of a percent. And a very small content of ultramicroelements - hundredths and thousandths of a percent.

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Translated from Greek, “macro” means large, and “micro” means small.

Scientists have found that there are no special elements that are inherent only in living organisms. Therefore, that living, that inanimate nature consists of the same elements. This proves their relationship.

Despite the quantitative content of a chemical element, the absence or reduction of at least one of them leads to the death of the whole organism. After all, each of them has its own meaning.

The role of the chemical composition of the cell

Macronutrients are the basis of biopolymers, namely proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and lipids.

Trace elements are part of the vital organic substances involved in metabolic processes. They are constituent components mineral salts, which are in the form of cations and anions, their ratio determines the alkaline environment. Most often, it is slightly alkaline, because the ratio of mineral salts does not change.

Hemoglobin contains iron, chlorophyll - magnesium, proteins - sulfur, nucleic acids - phosphorus, metabolism occurs with a sufficient amount of calcium.

Rice. 2. Composition of the cell

Some chemical elements are components inorganic substances, for example, water. It plays an important role in the life of both plant and animal cells. Water is a good solvent, because of this, all substances inside the body are divided into:

• hydrophilic - dissolve in water;
• Hydrophobic - do not dissolve in water.

Due to the presence of water, the cell becomes elastic, it contributes to the movement of organic substances in the cytoplasm.

Rice. 3. Substances of the cell.

Table “Properties of the chemical composition of the cell”

To clearly understand what chemical elements are part of the cell, we have included them in the following table:

Elements		Meaning
Macronutrients
Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen
		An integral component of the shell in plants, in the animal body is in the composition of bones and teeth, takes an active part in blood clotting.
		Contained in nucleic acids, enzymes, bone tissue and tooth enamel.
trace elements
		It is the basis of proteins, enzymes and vitamins.
		Provides transmission of nerve impulses, activates protein synthesis, photosynthesis and growth processes.
		One of the components of gastric juice, an enzyme provocateur.
		Takes an active part in metabolic processes, a component of the thyroid hormone.
		Provides impulse transmission nervous system, maintains constant pressure inside the cell, provokes the synthesis of hormones.
		A component of chlorophyll, bone tissue and teeth, provokes DNA synthesis and heat transfer processes.
		An integral part of hemoglobin, lens, cornea, synthesizes chlorophyll. Transports oxygen throughout the body.
Ultramicroelements
		An integral part of the processes of blood formation, photosynthesis, accelerates intracellular oxidation processes.
Manganese		It activates photosynthesis, participates in blood formation, provides high yield.
		Component of tooth enamel.
		Regulates plant growth.

What have we learned?

Each cell of living nature has its own set of chemical elements. According to their composition, objects of animate and inanimate nature have similarities, this proves their close relationship. Each cell consists of macronutrients, micronutrients and ultramicronutrients, each of which has its own role. The absence of at least one of them leads to disease and even death of the whole organism.

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From the inorganic substances of the cell water makes up about 65% of its mass: in young rapidly growing cells up to 95%, in old cells - about 60%. The role of water in cells is very large, it is a medium and a solvent, participates in most chemical reactions, the movement of substances, thermoregulation, the formation of cellular structures, determines the volume and elasticity of the cell. Most substances enter the body and are excreted from it in an aqueous solution.

organic matter- make up 20-30% of the cell composition. They may be simple(amino acids, glucose, fatty acid) And complex(proteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, lipids). The most important are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids.

Proteins are the main and most complex substances any cell. The size of a protein molecule is hundreds and thousands of times larger than the molecules of inorganic compounds. Protein molecules are formed from simple compounds - amino acids (natural proteins contain 20 amino acids). Uniting in different sequence and quantity, they form big variety(up to 1000) proteins. Their role in the life of the cell is enormous: construction material organism, catalysts (enzyme proteins accelerate chemical reactions), transport (blood hemoglobin delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells and carries away carbon dioxide and decay products). Proteins perform a protective function, energy. Carbohydrates are organic substances composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The simplest of them are monosaccharides - hexose, fructose, glucose (found in fruits, honey), galactose (in milk) and polysaccharides - consisting of several simple carbohydrates. These include starch and glycogen. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for all forms of cellular activity (movement, biosynthesis, secretion, etc.) and play the role of reserve substances. Lipids are water-insoluble fats and fat-like substances. They are the main structural component biological membranes. Lipids perform an energy function, they contain fat-soluble vitamins. Nucleic acids- (from Latin word"Nucleus" - the nucleus) - are formed in the nucleus of the cell. They are of two types: deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) and ribonucleic acids (RNA). Biological role their very large. They determine the synthesis of proteins and the transmission of hereditary information.