INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY

science concerned with the chemical  both cells and biomolecules

constituents of living cells and with reactions must have arisen from very
and processes they undergo simple molecules, such as H2O,
CH4, CO2, NH3, N2, and H2
deals with cell biology, molecular biology and
molecular genetics • Biomolecules

Relevance of Biochemistry Organic chemistry: the study of the compounds

of carbon and hydrogen with their derivatives
• understanding of the chemical
processes associated with living cells • the cellular apparatus of living
organisms is made up of carbon
• knowledge of biochemistry is essential compounds
to all life sciences
• Biomolecules
 biochem-genetics
• biomolecules are part of the
 biochem-physiology subject matter of organic
 biochem-immunology chemistry

biochem-pharmacology • the reactions of biomolecules


can be described by the
 biochem-toxicology methods of organic chemistry

 biochem-pathology • Biomolecules

 biochem-MEDICINE • The experiment of Friedrich

Wöhler in 1828
• concerned with entire spectrum of life
forms • Biomolecules

• biochemical researches have impact on • living cells include very large molecules
nutrition and preventive medicine (proteins, nucleic acids,
polysaccharides, lipids)
• Biochemical Evolution
• these biomolecules are
• all living things make use of the same
polymers (Greek: poly + meros,
types of biomolecules; all use energy
many + parts)
• Biochemical Evolution
• What are Biomolecules?
• “the fundamental similarity of cells of
• Biomolecules are molecules found in
all types makes it interesting to
living matter.
speculate on the origins of life”
 • Two broad types: Small molecules and • the catalytic effectiveness of a
macromolecules given enzyme depends on its
amino acid sequence
• Importance of Macromolecules:
Genetic code: the relationship between the
a) Essential structures for the basis of life nucleotide sequence in nucleic acids and the
b) Control and regulate these processes amino acid sequence in proteins

c) Responsible for energy exchanges, • theories of the origin of life

irritability, consider how such a coding
system might have arisen
metabolism, mobility and reproduction
The Bioorganic & Bioinorganic chemicals
• Biomolecules
• Water – 75%
– they are derived from
monomers (Greek: mono + • Inorganic elements
meros, single + part) – Major elements – N, Na, Mg, P,
--amino acids --> proteins S, Cl, K and Ca

--nucleotides --> nucleic acids – Trace elements – Fe, Zn, I

--monosaccharides --> polysaccharides • Organic compounds

--glycerol and 3 fatty acids --> lipids A. Nucleic acids

• Informational Macromolecules B. Proteins

• Level of Organization of Human C. Carbohydrates

Organism D. Lipids

Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
Functional group: an atom or group of atoms • Prokaryote: “before the nucleus”
that shows characteristic physical and chemical
properties – single-celled organisms

• Relative Abundance of Important – includes bacteria and

Elements cyanobacteria

• Gases present in the atmosphere of the • Eukaryote: “true nucleus”

early earth included NH3, H2S, CO, CO2,
CH4, N2, H2, and H2O but not O2 • contains a well-defined nucleus

Enzymes: a class of proteins that are

biocatalysts
 • single-celled (yeasts and • Differences Between Plant and Animal
Paramecium), multicellular Cell
(animals and plants)
• cell membrane - the thin layer of
• Eukaryotic Versus Prokaryotic Cells protein and fat that surrounds the cell.
The cell membrane is
eukaryotic cell semipermeable, allowing some
substances to pass into the cell
a. The nuclear body is bounded by a nuclear
and blocking others.
membrane

b. It contains one or more paired, linear centrosome - (also called the

chromosomes composed of (DNA) "microtubule organizing center") a
small body located near the nucleus
c. A nucleolus is present. The centrosomes is where
d. The nuclear body is called a nucleus. microtubules are made.
prokaryotic cell
a. The nuclear body is not bounded by a nuclear cytoplasm - the jellylike material
membrane. outside the cell nucleus in which the
b. It usually contains one circular chromosome organelles are located.
composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) • Golgi body - (also called the Golgi
associated with histone-like proteins. apparatus or golgi complex) a flattened,
c. There is no nucleolus. layered, sac-like organelle that looks
d. The nuclear body is called a nucleoid . like a stack of pancakes and is located
2.) cell division near the nucleus. The Golgi
eukaryotic cell body packages proteins and
a. The nucleus divides by mitosis. carbohydrates into membrane-bound
b. Haploid (1N) sex cells in diploid or 2N vesicles for "export" from the cell.
organisms are produced through meiosis
lysosome - (also called cell vesicles)
prokaryotic cell round organelles surrounded by a
a. The cell usually divides by binary fission. membrane and containing digestive
There is no mitosis. enzymes. This is where the digestion of
b. Prokaryotic cells are haploid Meiosis is not cell nutrients takes place.
needed. • nucleolus - an organelle within the
Cell Parts and Their Functions nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is
produced.
3 Basic Parts of a Cell
nucleus - The nucleus controls many of
• Animal Cell
the functions Of the cell (by controlling
protein synthesis) and contains DNA
(in chromosomes).
 • Nucleus
ribosome - small organelles composed
of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules • Contains nucleolus and chromatin
that are sites of protein • Location of main genome
synthesis.
• Mitochondrion
• rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough
ER) a vast system of Interconnected, • Site of oxidation reactions for the
membranous, infolded and convoluted production of energy
sacks. Rough ER transports materials
• Chloroplast
through the cell and produces
proteins in sacks called cisternae (which • Photosynthetic organelle
are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted
into the cell membrane). • Double-membrane

• Endoplasmic reticulum
smooth endoplasmic reticulum -
(smooth ER) a vast system of • Attached to cell membrane and nuclear
interconnected, membranous, infolded membrane
and convoluted tubes. Smooth ER
transports materials through the • Rough and smooth ER
cell. It contains enzymes and produces
• Golgi apparatus
and digests lipids (fats) and membrane
proteins. • Involved in protein secretion from the
cell
• Plant Cell
• Site in which sugars are linked to other
 non living structure that surrounds the
cellular components
plant cell.
• Lysosomes
 protects + supports the cell.
• Secretes hydrolytic enzymes
 made up of a tough fiber called
cellulose. • Peroxisomes

Mitochondria • Contains the enzyme catalase

Vacuoles • Vacuole
Chloroplasts (Plant cells only )
• Isolate waste substances that are toxic
 contains a green pigment known as to the plant
chlorophyll which is important for
photosynthesis. Chemical Composition of Living Matter

Chloroplasts • Water – 70-90% (free and bound

water)
 • Solids – 10-30% • It has a high specific heat, that is, it
takes up more heat to raise its
• Inorganic substances – 1% (Na, K, Ca, temperature through 1oC, thus allowing
Mg, NH4, Cl-, SO4, PO4-3, CO3-2, etc. the body to store heat effectively
• Traces of Fe, I2, Cu, Mn, Co, Zn are also without greatly raising its temperature.
present in combination with organic • It possesses a high latent heat of
radicals evaporation
• Rest- organic substances • It has the capacity to conduct heat
Water readily

• This is the major component of the cell • Water as an ideal biologic agent
and is often referred to as an inert • Water is a dipole, a molecule with
space filter in a living organism. chemical charge distributed
• It is a strong dipole and has a high asymmetrically about its structure.
dielectric constant. • Hydrogen bonding enables water to
• It is highly reactive with unusual dissolve many organic biomolecules
properties different physically and that contain functional groups which
chemically from other common liquids. can participate in hydrogen bonding.

• Water and its ionization products H+ • Hydrogen bonds account for the surface
and OH- are important factors in tension, viscosity, liquid state at room
determining the structure and temperature, and solvent power of
biological properties of proteins, nucleic water.
acids, lipids, and other cell components. • Compounds that contain O, N or S can
IMPORTANCE OF WATER serve as hydrogen bond donors or
acceptors.
• Supports existence of plant and animal
life

• Every activity of every cell in the body

takes place in a water environment. IMPORTANCE OF WATER
• Properties of Water • Essential in the processes of digestion,
• It is a universal solvent circulation, elimination and the
regulation of body temperature.
• It is an ideal biologic agent or medium
for the ionization of substances and • Acts as a solvent, it dissolves sugar, salt
therefore hastens chemical reactions and alcohol.

• Water intake = water output

 Water intake > water output = edema • Electrons are unequally shared,more negative
charge found closer to one atom.
Water intake < water output = dehydration
• Due to difference in electronegativity of
PROPERTIES OF WATER atoms involved in bond.
• Pure water is colorless, odorless, POLARITY OF WATER
tasteless
• Polar nature of water molecule is
Tap water taste comes from dissolved responsible for its property of dissolving
gases and minerals. many materials
Blue color of oceans, and lakes is due to • The unsymmetrical distribution of
reflection of the sky and presence of finely electrons i.e., the bond or molecule
divided solid materials . contains (+) and (-) poles resulting into
• Water volume at room temperature a dipole.
contracts as it cools but further cooling • Water as Ideal Biologic Solvent
(4oC ) causes volume expansion (ice),
decreasing its density. (lighter). • Ionic compounds (KCl) and low
molecular-weight polar covalent
• Density of water is 1g/mL; (mass at 4oC compounds (e.g.C2H5OH and CH3COCH3)
= 1g) dissolve in water
• Boiling point of pure water is 100 oC at • Interesting and Unique Properties of
1atm pressure. Water
• Freezing point of water is 0oC. Each water molecule can be involved in 4
• Heat is necessary for water to hydrogen bonds: 2 as donor, and 2 as acceptor
evaporate. The amount of heat • Due to the tetrahedral arrangement of the
necessary so that evaporation to take water molecule
place is called heat of vaporization =
540 cal/g. (perspiration) • Hydrogen Bond

• For ice to melt, amount of heat • Hydrogen bonding: important in

required is 80cal/g. stabilization of 3-D structures of
biological molecules (DNA, RNA,
• Calorie is the amount of heat required proteins)
to change the temperature of 1g of
water by 1oC • Even though hydrogen bonds are
weaker than covalent bonds, they have
• A WATER MOLECULE a significant effect on the physical
• WHAT MAKES WATER POLAR properties of hydrogen-bonded
compounds
What is a polar bond: