Week 1 topics

Biomolecules Overview

• Four Major Classes of Biomolecules

  • Proteins
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids

• Monomer Units of Biomolecules

  • Proteins: Amino Acids
  • Carbohydrates: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose)
  • Lipids: Free fatty acids, Acetyl group
  • Nucleic Acids: Nucleotides (Bases, purines, and pyrimidines)

• Functions of Biomolecules

  • Proteins:
    • Structure
    • Enzymes
    • Storage
    • Signaling (receptors)
    • Regulation
  • Carbohydrates:
    • Structure
    • Energy storage
  • Lipids:
    • Energy Storage
    • Cell membranes
    • Signals
  • Nucleic Acids:
    • Information storage
    • Information transfer

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

• The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system:
  • \text{DNA} \rightarrow \text{RNA} \rightarrow \text{Protein}
  • Note: RNA viruses are an exception to this flow.

Metabolism

• Metabolism is defined as the creation and use of biomolecules.
  • Includes both energy production and the building of cellular structures.

Gene Structure

• What makes up a gene?
  • RNA Polymerase binds to the template strand.
  • Nucleosomes (Histones and DNA)
  • Promoter region
  • TATA box
  • General Transcription Factors
  • Regulatory Elements
  • Enhancer or Silencer