Topic 1 BICM 200

Biochemistry Basics

  • Biochemistry studies life's chemistry, focusing on molecular structure and function.
  • Key molecules: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, metabolites, and ions.

Energy and Life Processes

  • Organisms extract energy from food (e.g., doughnuts), converting it into ATP.
  • Oxygen is crucial for efficient energy extraction, transported by hemoglobin.
  • Enzymes facilitate biochemical reactions, breaking down nutrients into building blocks.

Molecular Interactions and Water

  • Water's properties influence the structure of biological molecules.
  • Hydrophilic parts interact with water, while hydrophobic parts avoid it, forming structures like phospholipid bilayers.
  • Molecular structure dictates function, exemplified by enzyme active sites and DNA structure.

Genetic Basis of Disease

  • Biochemistry helps understand health and disease at a molecular level.
  • Applications include diagnostics, personalized medicine, and treatments.
  • Example: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) involves a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, forming the Philadelphia chromosome.
  • The BCR-ABL fusion gene results in uncontrolled cell division; drugs target this protein.

Enzymes in Industry

  • Enzymes are vital in food production (baking, cheese making, brewing) and industrial processes.
  • They prevent stalling, improve texture, and aid in flavor development.

Key Elements and Bonds

  • Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen are the most common elements in living organisms.
  • Carbon's ability to form four bonds allows for diverse structures; saturated vs. unsaturated fats.
  • Covalent bonds can be polar or nonpolar, influencing molecular interactions.

Functional groups

  • Alcohols, Amines, Carbonyls
  • Glycerol free phosphate, malonyl CoA

Noncovalent Interactions

  • Ionic interactions: Attraction between opposite charges (e.g., NaCl in water).
  • Hydrogen bonds: Involve a hydrogen atom between electronegative atoms; linear bonds.
  • Van der Waals interactions: Weak, temporary dipoles between nonpolar molecules.
  • Hydrophobic interactions: Nonpolar molecules aggregate to minimize contact with water.

Biological Molecules

  • Four classes: proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids.
  • Proteins: Polymers of amino acids; enzymes, hemoglobin.
  • Nucleic acids: DNA (double-stranded) and RNA (single-stranded).
  • Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides (e.g., glucose).
  • Lipids: Nonpolar molecules like cholesterol and fatty acids.