biochem 1

Course Information

• Course name: PHM 10202 Biochemistry
• Lecture: 1 Introduction to Biochemistry Components
• Lecturer: Dr. Norsyafikah Asyilla Nordin
• University: UniSZA (Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)

Course Assessment Plan

• Continuous Assessment (CONASS): 40%
  • Test (MCQ): 10%
  • Test (SEQ): 10%
  • Lab Report: 20%
• Final Assessment (FINASS): 60%
  • Final Exam: 60% (MCQ, SEQ, LEQ)
• 2 credit: 70%
• 3 credit: 100%

Course Schedule

• Week 1 (10/10/24): Lecture 1 - Introduction to Biochemistry Components - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 2 (17/10/24): Lecture 2 - Water as a universal solvent - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 2 (23/10/24): Lecture 3 - Enzymes - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 3 (24/10/24): Practical 1 - Enzyme kinetics - Dr. Asyilla, Practical 2 - Total protein determination - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 3 (31/10/24): Deepavali Public Holiday
• Week 4 (06/11/24): Practical 3 - Quantitative analysis of carbohydrate - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 4 (07/11/24): Lecture 4 - Protein (Part 1) - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 5 (13/11/24): Practical 4 - Quantitative analysis of lipid - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 5 (14/11/24): Lecture 4 - Protein (Part 2) - Dr. Asyilla
• (21/11/24): Test 1 - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 6 (05/12/24): Lecture 5 - Membrane transport - Dr. Asyilla
• Week 6, 7, 8 (24/11-30/11/2024): Mid Semester Break
• Week 9 (12/12/24): Lecture 6 - Carbohydrate (Part 1) - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 10 (19/12/24): Lecture 6 - Carbohydrate (Part 2) - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 11 (26/12/24): Lecture 7 - Lipid (Part 1) - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 12 (2/01/25): Lecture 7 - Lipid (Part 2), Lecture 8 - Metabolism and drug delivery - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 13 (09/01/25): Test 2 - Dr. Nasyriq
• Week 14 (16/01/25): KeLIP Activity
• Study Week (17 - 26/01/25)
• Final Examination (02/02 - 20/02/25)
• Schedule subject to change

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the principle of biochemistry
• Describe the development of biochemistry
• Discuss the function of organelles in cells
• Discuss the classes and functions of biomolecules
• Explain the importance of biochemistry in daily lives

Biochemistry

• Special branch of chemistry dealing with chemical compounds in living organisms
• Study of life at molecular level
• Chemistry of living cells

Why Study Biochemistry?

• Fundamental understanding of life
• Understanding issues in medicine, health, and nutrition
• Deeper molecular understanding of diseases (diabetes, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis)
• Advanced biotechnology industries

Biochemistry Focus

• Structure, organization, and function of living organisms at the molecular level
• Understanding life at the molecular level: knowledge of chemical structures of biological molecules, understanding biological functions of molecules, understanding bioenergetics (energy flow in cells)

History of Biochemistry

• Carl Alexander Neuberg (July 1877 – May 1956):
  • Early pioneer, father of modern biochemistry
  • International recognition for elucidating biochemical reactions of alcoholic fermentation

Notable Breakthroughs

• Enzymes as catalysts
• Nucleic acids as information molecules

Some Historic Events

• 1937 - Krebs for the discovery of the Citric Acid Cycle (Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1953)
• 1953 - Watson and Crick for the discovery of the DNA Double Helix (Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962)

Cells

• Basic building blocks of life
• Smallest living unit of an organism (unicellular or multicellular)
• Grow, reproduce, use energy, adapt, and respond to their environment

Prokaryotes

• Unicellular
• One cellular membrane
• Cytoplasm

Eukaryotes

• Multicellular
• Specialized cellular parts called organelles

Characteristics of Bio-membranes and Organelles

• Outer and inner membranes, lumen, stroma, etc.

Cell Components (Organelles)

• Plasma membrane
• Nucleus
• Mitochondria
• Golgi apparatus
• Ribosomes
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
• Lysosomes
• Cytoplasm
• Chloroplast
• Cell wall
• Central vacuole

Biomolecules

• H, O, C, and N make up 99+% of atoms in the human body & most cells (with proportions)
• Backbone of biomolecules are these elements, forming strong covalent bonds.
• Chemical reactions are essentially the same, whether occurring inside or outside cells.

Biomolecules are Carbon Compounds

• C atoms form single, double, and triple bonds.
• Single C-atom forms single bonds with up to four other C-atoms.
• Covalently linked atoms form linear, branched, and cyclic structures.
• Functional groups attached to C backbone determine chemical properties & diversity of biomolecules.

Types of Biomolecules

• Small molecules (lipid, phospholipid, glycolipid, sterol, vitamin, hormone, neurotransmitter, carbohydrate, sugar, amino acids, nucleotides, monosaccharides)
• Polymers (peptides, polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids (RNA, DNA), oligosaccharides, polysaccharides)

How Monomers Form Polymers

• Condensation (dehydration synthesis): water removed, monomers combined.

Major Classes of Biomolecules

• Carbohydrates (composed of C, H, and O):
  • Sugars
  • Major energy source, structure, communication, cell adhesion, and defense.
• Proteins (composed of amino acids):
  • Structural components, cell components, cell membranes, transport, catalytic enzymes, maintaining cell contact, signaling via hormones.
• Lipids (diverse group including fats, oils, waxes, and steroid hormones):
  • Hydrophobic
  • Form biological membranes, energy storage, protection, regulating cell activity.
• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA):
  • Information needed for controlling cellular processes and building cells.
  • DNA: double helix, storage of genetic information in the nucleus.
  • RNA: typically single stranded, working form of info, copied from DNA.

Importance of Biochemistry

• Pharmacy: drug constitution, degradation, half-life, drug storage, drug metabolism
• Medicine: physiology, pathology, nutrition deficiency, hormonal deficiency.
• Nutrition: food chemistry, nutrients, and their roles, limit usage of food and nutrients for certain diseases.
• Plants: photosynthesis, respiration, secondary metabolites.