Overview of Biochemistry

Overview of Biochemistry

• Biochemistry integrates biology and chemistry to understand living organisms' chemical processes.
• It focuses on molecular structures, interactions, and reactions.

Key Concepts

1. Molecules of Life

   • Proteins
     • Composed of amino acids.
     • Functions: Enzymatic catalysis, structural roles, transport, signaling.
   • Nucleic Acids
     • DNA and RNA.
     • Functions: Genetic information storage, transmission, and expression.
   • Carbohydrates
     • Sugars (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides).
     • Functions: Energy storage, structural support (cellulose, chitin).
   • Lipids
     • Fats, oils, phospholipids, steroids.
     • Functions: Energy storage, membrane structure, signaling.

2. Metabolism

   • Catabolism
     • Breakdown of molecules to release energy (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle).
   • Anabolism
     • Synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones (e.g., protein synthesis, gluconeogenesis).
   • ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
     • Primary energy carrier in cells.

3. Enzymes

   • Biological catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions.
   • Characteristics:
     • Specificity for substrates.
     • Active site where reactions occur.
     • Influenced by temperature, pH, and inhibitors.

4. Biochemical Techniques

   • Chromatography
     • Separates mixtures based on component interactions.
   • Electrophoresis
     • Separates molecules based on size and charge.
   • Spectroscopy
     • Analyzes substances based on interaction with light.

5. Cellular Biochemistry

   • Cell Membranes
     • Composed of lipid bilayers, proteins, and carbohydrates.
     • Functions: Barrier, transport, communication.
   • Signal Transduction
     • Process by which cells respond to external signals.
     • Involves receptor proteins and second messengers.

6. Genetic Biochemistry

   • DNA Replication
     • Process of copying DNA for cell division.
   • Transcription and Translation
     • DNA → mRNA (transcription) and mRNA → protein (translation).
   • Gene Regulation
     • Mechanisms that control gene expression.

Applications of Biochemistry

• Medicine: Drug development, disease mechanisms, genetic disorders.
• Biotechnology: Genetic engineering, microbiology, fermentation technology.
• Nutrition: Understanding metabolic pathways and dietary impacts.

Important Biochemical Pathways

• Glycolysis: Breakdown of glucose to pyruvate, producing ATP.
• Citric Acid Cycle: Central metabolic pathway for energy production.
• Electron Transport Chain: Produces ATP using electrons from NADH and FADH2.

Miscellaneous

• pH and buffer systems: Critical for maintaining optimal conditions for biochemical reactions.
• Enzyme kinetics: Studies rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (e.g., Michaelis-Menten kinetics).

Biochemistry Overview

• Biochemistry is a field that combines biology and chemistry to understand living organisms' chemical processes.
• It focuses on molecular structures, interactions, and reactions within living organisms.

Molecules of Life

• Proteins are made up of amino acids, they have various functions including:
  • Enzymatic catalysis
  • Structural roles
  • Transport
  • Signaling
• Nucleic Acids are DNA and RNA, these are responsible for:
  • Genetic information storage
  • Transmission
  • Expression
• Carbohydrates are sugars including:
  • Monosaccharides
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • They serve roles in:
    • Energy storage
    • Structural support (cellulose, chitin)
• Lipids comprise fats, oils, phospholipids, and steroids, these are important for:
  • Energy storage
  • Membrane structure
  • Signaling

Metabolism

• Catabolism involves the breakdown of molecules to release energy (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle).
• Anabolism involves the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones (e.g., protein synthesis, gluconeogenesis).
• ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the cell's primary energy carrier.

Enzymes

• Biological catalysts that accelerate biochemical reactions.
• Their characteristics include:
  • Specificity for substrates
  • An active site where reactions occur.
• They are influenced by:
  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Inhibitors

Biochemical Techniques

• Chromatography separates mixtures based on component interactions.
• Electrophoresis separates molecules based on size and charge.
• Spectroscopy analyzes substances based on light interaction.

Cellular Biochemistry

• Cell Membranes are composed of lipid bilayers, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• They function as:
  • Barriers
  • Transport mechanisms
  • Communication pathways
• Signal Transduction is the process by which cells respond to external signals.
• It involves receptor proteins and second messengers.

Genetic Biochemistry

• DNA Replication is the process of copying DNA for cell division
• Transcription and Translation are processes that involve:
  • Converting DNA to mRNA (transcription)
  • Converting mRNA to protein (translation)
• Gene Regulation involves mechanisms that control gene expression.

Applications of Biochemistry

• Medicine utilizes biochemistry to aid drug development, understanding disease mechanisms, and diagnosing genetic disorders.
• Biotechnology applies biochemistry to genetic engineering, microbiology, and fermentation technology.
• Nutrition uses biochemistry to understand metabolic pathways, dietary impacts, and related aspects.

Important Biochemical Pathways

• Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate, producing ATP.
• Citric Acid Cycle is a central metabolic pathway for energy production.
• Electron Transport Chain creates ATP using electrons from NADH and FADH2.

Miscellaneous Concepts

• pH and buffer systems are crucial for maintaining optimal conditions for biochemical reactions.
• Enzyme kinetics studies reaction rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (e.g., Michaelis-Menten kinetics).