Introduction to Biochemistry

Introduction to Biochemistry

• Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms.
• It encompasses a wide range of topics, from the structure and function of biomolecules to the metabolic pathways that sustain life.
• Biochemistry bridges the gap between biology and chemistry.
• Key to understanding biological processes at a molecular level.

Biomolecules

• Carbohydrates: Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are crucial for energy storage (e.g., glycogen, starch) and structural support (e.g., cellulose, chitin).
• Lipids: Hydrophobic molecules that include fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Vital for energy storage, membrane structure, and hormone production.
• Proteins: Complex polymers of amino acids. Perform diverse functions including catalysis (enzymes), transport, structural support, and defense.
• Nucleic Acids: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Carry genetic information, essential for protein synthesis.

Enzymes

• Catalyst: Enzymes accelerate chemical reactions in biological systems without being consumed in the process.
• Specificity: Enzymes exhibit high specificity, catalyzing only particular reactions or a limited range of substrates.
• Active Site: The region of an enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place.
• Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity: Temperature, pH, and substrate concentration significantly influence enzyme function.

Metabolism

• Catabolism: The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.
• Anabolism: The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy input.
• Metabolic Pathways: Series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that guide the transformations of molecules in cells.
• Cellular Respiration: A key catabolic pathway that releases energy from glucose to produce ATP, the cell's primary energy currency.
• Photosynthesis: An anabolic pathway used by plants and some bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Cellular Respiration

• Glycolysis: The initial phase of cellular respiration, breaking down glucose into pyruvate.
• Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle): Further oxidation of pyruvate, producing energy-rich molecules (NADH, FADH2).
• Electron Transport Chain (ETC): Utilizes the high-energy electrons from NADH and FADH2 to create a proton gradient, driving ATP synthesis.
• Oxidative Phosphorylation: The process where ATP is generated through the ETC.
• Each step releases energy, some is conserved to power ATP synthesis, and some is released as heat.

Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

• DNA Structure: Double helix composed of nucleotides, carrying the genetic code.
• RNA Structure: Various types, including messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA), crucial for protein synthesis.
• Transcription: The process of copying a segment of DNA into mRNA.
• Translation: The process of decoding the mRNA sequence to build a polypeptide chain (protein).
• Genetic Code: A set of rules that dictates how the sequence of nucleotides in DNA and RNA is translated into amino acid sequences in proteins.

Water

• Solvent Properties: Water acts as a universal solvent, dissolving many polar and charged substances crucial to biological processes.
• High Specific Heat Capacity: Water's ability to absorb or release large amounts of heat with minimal temperature change helps regulate body temperature.
• High Heat of Vaporization: Water requires a significant amount of energy to change from liquid to vapor, playing a role in temperature regulation and cooling processes.
• Cohesion and Adhesion: Water molecules stick to each other and to other polar substances, facilitating transport processes within organisms.
• Density Anomalous: Ice is less dense than liquid water, crucial for aquatic life.

pH and Buffers

• pH Scale: A measure of hydrogen ion concentration, crucial to many biological processes.
• Buffers: Solutions that resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
• Maintaining appropriate pH is vital for enzyme function, and many metabolic reactions.

Bioinformatics

• Use of computational tools for analysing biological data, and predicting protein structures.
• Applications in understanding gene function, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.

Biotechnology

• Recombinant DNA Technology: Techniques for manipulating DNA to produce organisms with desired traits or create therapeutic proteins.
• Genetic Engineering: The manipulation of an organism's genes to alter its genetic characteristics, with possible applications in medicine and agriculture.
• Applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture and the environment.

This quiz covers fundamental concepts of biochemistry, focusing on the chemical processes that occur in living organisms. Explore the structure and function of various biomolecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Understand the significance of these molecules in sustaining life and their roles in biological systems.