1. Foundations of Biochemistry (1)

Chapter Overview

  • Title: CHEM 109 General Biochemistry

  • Prepared by: Liezel C. Espelita, L. Agr

Objectives

  • Acquire knowledge on biochemistry and chemical composition of human beings.

  • Describe the relationship between biochemistry and the living state.

Introduction to Biochemistry

  • Definition:

    • Biochemistry combines BIO (life) and CHEMISTRY (science of matter).

    • It focuses on chemical processes related to living organisms at a molecular level.

Differentiating Living from Non-Living Things

Characteristics of Living Things

  • Movement:

    • Movement can be at the level of structure or in response to stimuli (e.g., predator avoidance).

  • Respiration:

    • Chemical reaction where glucose and oxygen convert to carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy.

    • Occurs in both light and darkness in plants.

  • Sensitivity:

    • Organisms react to environmental changes, demonstrating sensitivity.

Continued Characteristics of Living Things

  • Growth:

    • Defined as irreversible mass change; organisms grow or develop over time.

    • Example: plants developing from seeds.

  • Reproduction:

    • Ability to produce offspring and pass genes (DNA) to next generation.

  • Excretion:

    • All organisms produce waste as a byproduct of energy acquisition.

  • Nutrition:

    • Nutrients derived from food are essential for energy, repair, growth, and regulation.

  • Acronym: MRS GREN (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition).

Investigation Scenarios on Living Characteristics

  • Examples:

    • A caterpillar eating leaves...

    • Cats mating...

    • A bear hibernating...

    • A green plant growing toward sunlight...

    • Sweating in humans as a response...

    • Digesting food and eliminating waste.

Brief History of Biochemistry

  • Paracelsus (1493-1541):

    • Proposed chemical imbalances lead to disease, dubbed "Father of Toxicology."

  • Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794):

    • Known as "Father of Modern Chemistry"; identified oxygen's role in combustion.

  • Louis Pasteur (1822-1895):

    • Showed metabolic processes are carried out by microorganisms.

  • Emil Fischer (1902):

    • Nobel Prize for his protein and enzyme structure research.

  • Carl Neuberg (1903):

    • Coined the term “biochemistry.”

  • Recombinant DNA Technology (1970):

    • Techniques for manipulating DNA initiated genetic engineering.

The Molecular Level in Biochemistry

  • Biomolecules: Lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates.

  • Applications: Atherosclerosis diagnosis, genetic disease detection, diabetes testing, etc.

  • Healthcare: Biochemistry aids in diagnosing/treating diseases, nutrition, genetics, drug development, and environmental analysis.

Key Biomolecules

  • Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen (CHON) compose 99% of cells by mass.

  • Bonding: CHON can form stable covalent bonds through sharing electrons.

  • Classifications:

    • Proteins: Structure and repair.

    • Carbohydrates: Energy source.

    • Lipids: Energy storage and insulation.

    • Nucleic acids: Genetic information storage.

Types of Carbohydrates

  • Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose).

  • Disaccharides: Two units linked (e.g., maltose).

  • Polysaccharides: Long chains (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).

  • Key Functions: Starch for energy storage in plants; glycogen for energy in animals; cellulose for structural support.

Proteins Overview

  • Functions: Transport, enzymatic activity, growth & repair (e.g., hemoglobin, antibodies).

  • Structure: Composed of amino acids.

  • Amino Acids: 20 total, with essential (9) and non-essential (11) categories.

Nucleic Acids

  • Function: Store and transmit genetic information.

  • Components: Nucleotides made up of sugar, phosphate, nitrogen base (A, T, G, C, U).

  • Types: DNA (genetic material), RNA (protein synthesis), ATP (energy currency).

Cellular Structures

  • Cells:

    • Basic unit of life, composed of various structures/organelles.

    • Two types: prokaryotic (simple, no nucleus) vs. eukaryotic (complex, nucleus).

Biomolecules and Cells

  • Hierarchy: Molecules --> Macromolecules --> Organelles --> Cells --> Tissues --> Organs --> Organ Systems --> Organisms.

Functional Groups in Biomolecules

  • Key functional groups include carbon-oxygen, carbon-nitrogen, carbon-sulfur, esters, and amides, influencing properties and interactions.

  • Clinical Correlations: Ketosis, amines related to neurotransmitters, and impacts of heavy metals on proteins.