Basic Plant BioChemistry Chapter 1

Study Notes

Matter: Anything that takes up space
Element: Substance composed of one type of atom
Atom: Smallest unit of an element that keeps the chemical and physical properties of that element
Neutron: Atomic particle with one mass unit and no charge
Proton: Atomic particle with one mass unit and a positive charge
Electron: Atomic particle with a negative charge and "no" mass

Atoms want to fill their outer shells with electrons
Chemical reactions enable atoms to give up or get electrons to complete their outer shells
Interactions between outer shells of atoms = chemical bonds

Ionic Bonds: Formed between oppositely charged ions (transfer of electrons)
Covalent Bonds: Formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of outer-shell electrons
The number of covalent bonds an atom can potentially form = number of additional electrons needed to fill its outer shell

Definition: Plant biochemistry is the study of molecular basis of plant life, including the synthesis and utilization of compounds in the life process of plants (growth & development)
Biochemistry impacts:
- Medicine
- Agriculture
- Industrial applications
- Environmental applications
Principle areas of biochemistry:
- Structure and function of biological macromolecules
- Metabolism – anabolic and catabolic processes
- Molecular Genetics – How life is replicated
- Regulation of protein synthesis

Types of biomolecules:
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
Many biomolecules are complex molecules called polymers, made up of monomeric subunits
Biochemical molecules are principally based on carbon

Most abundant biomolecules on Earth
Range in sizes, from simple monosaccharides (sugars) to oligosaccharides, to polysaccharides
Composed of carbon and water with a composition of (CH2O)n
Found mainly in foods from plant sources, such as fruits, vegetables, grain products, dry beans, etc.
Synthesised in green plants through photosynthesis
Main role of carbohydrates in nature:
- Provide energy
- Store energy in the form of starch (in plants) and glycogen (in animals and humans)
- Supply carbon for synthesis of other biomolecules