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1 - Introduction to Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes and constituents of living cells, essential for understanding life and its functions. It is closely related to various scientific fields and is crucial for medical laboratory science, as it informs the interpretation of laboratory tests and disease mechanisms. The document outlines the molecular composition of cells, the significance of biomolecules, and the types of biochemical reactions that occur in living organisms.

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2 views

1 - Introduction to Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes and constituents of living cells, essential for understanding life and its functions. It is closely related to various scientific fields and is crucial for medical laboratory science, as it informs the interpretation of laboratory tests and disease mechanisms. The document outlines the molecular composition of cells, the significance of biomolecules, and the types of biochemical reactions that occur in living organisms.

Uploaded by

lelisadesalegn7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Introduction to Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the science concerned with the chemical basis
of life (Gk bios “life”).
In simple terms; Biochemistry is “Chemistry of the living cell”
The cell is the structural unit of living systems. Thus,
biochemistry can also be described as the science concerned with
the chemical constituents of living cells and with the reactions
and processes they undergo.
Biochemistry encompasses large areas of cell biology,
molecular biology, and molecular genetics.
Essential to understand basic functions in the body
Organisms are remarkably uniform at the molecular level
The aim of Biochemistry is to describe & explain all chemical
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processes of living cells in molecular terms.
Why do we study biochemistry?
 To understand the chemical processes that takes place in living
organisms, and in fact, characterize life itself
 The chemical logic of living things includes synthesis and
degradation of small organic molecules
 To fundamental understanding of life
 To understand important issues in medicine, health, and nutrition
 Has led to greater molecular understanding of diseases such
as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis, AIDS,
cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease etc
 Biochemical approaches are often fundamental in illuminating
the causes of diseases and in designing appropriate therapies.
 Health depends on a harmonious balance of biochemical
reactions occurring in the body, and disease reflects
abnormalities in biomolecules, biochemical reactions, or
biochemical processes 2
Relations of Biochemistry with other fields of science
(Scope of Biochemistry )

 biochemistry is related to all of the other sciences that study


about living organisms
 molecular biology, molecular genetics, physiology,
toxicology, drug design, nutrition, Medicine ….
 A sound knowledge of biochemistry and of other related
basic disciplines is essential for the rational practice of
medical and related health sciences.

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What is the relevance of biochemistry to medical laboratory
science?

 Medical laboratory science is a wide field, and biochemistry is


one of the disciplines under its umbrella.
 The laboratory tests in this field are based on the processes
studied in biochemistry - including metabolic pathways and how
inferences can be made between experimental reactions and
what is contained in a laboratory sample.
 When we measure such analytes as enzymes and substrates, we
need to have an understanding of what the enzyme/substrate is
and how it reacts under different circumstances.
 Such knowledge enables us to interpret the experimental
outcomes - whether valid or invalid and what they mean to the
patient/participant.
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 Accruing sufficient biochemical knowledge is needed in order to
properly understand the metabolism, function and growth of a
healthy human body.
 All diseases have a molecular  kidney dysfunction
basis, so biochemistry enables  Hypercholesterolemia
us to understand the chemical
 Phenylketonuria
processes involved in
conditions as varied as:  sickle cell anaemia
 Diabetes  dental fluorosis
 hyperammonemia, hypo- and  Rickets
hyperthyroidism  acidosis and alkalosis
 hypo- and  lysosomal storage
hyperparathyroidism diseases
 Jaundice  atherosclerosis

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The Chemical Basis (foundations) of life

 92 naturally occurring elements


 only about 30 elements are essential for life
 only H, O, C, N, Ca & P constitute more than 99% of the
atoms in the human body
 most of the H and O occur as H2O
 next most common element in living organisms is carbon
 chemistry of living organisms is organized around carbon
atom: accounts for more than half the dry weight of cells
 Other elements have essential roles in living systems—notably
nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur

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MOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF CELL
 Water
Water accounts for about 60-70% of the weight of the cell. Other
cellular constituents are either dissolved or suspended in water.
 Organic Compounds/Biomolecules
 Organic compounds accounts for 25-30% of the cell weight.
• They are nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.
• Proteins accounts 10-20% of the weight of the cell.
• Nucleic acids account 7-10% of the cell weight.
• Polysaccharides usually account for 2-5% of the cell weight.
• About 3% of cell weight is due to lipids.
• Lipids content may be higher in adipocytes or fat cells.
• Proteins may account more of cell weight in cells 7like
 Other low molecular weight organic compounds may account
for 4% of cell weight. They are monosaccharides, aminoacids,
fatty acids, purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, peptides,
hormones, vitamins and coenzymes.
 Inorganic Compounds
o Inorganic compounds account for the rest of the cell weight.
o They are cations like sodium, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, copper, iron and anions like chloride, phosphate,
bicarbonate, sulfate, iodide and fluoride.

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What makes biomolecules special?
 Molecules composed of carbon are known as Organic
molecules
 their unique characteristics are related to structures termed
functional groups
 Functional groups are chemical groups that confer specific
chemical properties on the molecule

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Some key functional groups in biochemistry

 Hydrophobic – aliphatic(R-CH3) & Aromatic (


 Hydroxyl – Alcohol (R-OH)
 Carbonyl – Aldehyde (RCOH) & Ketone (RCOR)
 Carboxyl - Carboxylic acid (R-COOH)
 Amino – Amines(R-NH2)
 Phosphate - Organic phoshate (
 Sulfhydral – Thiols (R-SH)

 Most biomolecules contain more than one functional groups.

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Cellular foundation

 All cell similarities:


 Use energy
 Cells structure and function
 Biomolecular organization
 etc

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Summary of major biochemical function of cell organelles

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Chemical bonds
(stabilizing forces in biomolecules)
1. covalent bonds (formed by sharing of electrons)
2. Ionic/electrostatic bonds (formed b/n two electrostatic
attraction or ionized groups of opposite charges)
3. Hydrogen bonds (formed by sharing of H)
4. Hydrophobic interaction (non-polar group association in
aqueous solution)
5. Vander waals force (weak force of attraction b/n polar and
non-polar molecules)
 Weak non-covalent forces maintain biological structure and
determine biomolecular interactions. They are important for
the three-dimensional structure and function of biological
macromolecules.
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The Biomolecular Hierarchy

Atoms/ elements
Simple Molecules (are the Units for Building
Complex Structures)
Metabolites and Macromolecules
Organelles
Membranes
The Unit of Life is the Cell

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Figure: structural hierarchy in the molecular organization of Cells.
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Biochemical reactions in the living system

 Metabolism: the sum total of chemical reactions in the living


cell/organism
Can be of two type
1. Catabolism: break down or degradation reactions
Examples: digestion, oxidation of glucose…
2. Anabolism: Synthetic reactions
Examples: Synthesis of proteins, nucleotides…
 Metabolic errors: abnormalities in metabolism.
Inherited and acquired type
 Waste products: inevitable waste products are produced when
biochemical reactions are undergoing in the living system.
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