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Objectives:
BIOCHEMISTRY 1. To define biochemistry.
FOR MLS 2. To understand and explain the
importance biochemistry to all life
sciences.
3. To identify the major classes of
LECTURE 1: biomolecules.
INTRODUCTION 4. To describe the different intermolecular
interactions of an atom.

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Why study biochemistry?

BIOCHEMISTRY
• Deals with the study of the chemistry of living
organisms
• Application of the principles and methods of
chemistry to the field of biology and
physiology
• Concerned with the physico-chemical
processes underlying
– Digestion, absorption, circulation, respiration,
metabolism, growth, and reproduction
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• To describe and explain in molecular terms all
chemical processes of living cells.
• Knowledge in biochemistry is essential to all life
sciences.
• A reciprocal relationship between biochemistry
and medicine has stimulated mutual advances.
• Normal biochemical processes are the basis of
health.
• Biochemical research has impact on nutrition and
preventive medicine.
• Most and perhaps all disease has biochemical
basis.

Two-Way Street: Medicine and Human Genome Project

Biochemistry
• A rough draft is complete, >90% sequenced

• Represents approximately 75,000 human genes

(estimated range: 30,000 to 120,000)

• Based on the DNA from six individuals; thus

provides little information regarding genetic diversity
within the population

• Estimated that 95% of our DNA content is not

important; represents evolutionary “baggage”

• Highlights the need for continued sequencing of

genomes from other organisms to identify essential
genes and their functions

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4 Major Classes of Biomolecules

BIOCHEMISTRY
• Proteins • Clinical Biochemistry

– Physiological Chemistry
• Nucleic Acids • Normal processes

– Pathological Chemistry
• Carbohydrates • Abnormal processes

• Lipids

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Major Causes of Disease

BIOCHEMISTRY
• i s b o t h a l i f e s c i e n c e a n d a c h e mi c a l
science
• i t e x p l o re s t h e c h e mi s t r y o f l i vi n g
o rg a n i s ms a n d t h e mo l e c u l a r b a s i s f o r
t h e c h a n g e s o c c u rri n g i n l i vi n g c e l l s
• h a s b e c o me t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r
u n d e rs t a n d i n g a l l b i o l o g i c a l
p ro c e s s e s
• i t h a s p ro vi d e d e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r t h e
c a u s e s o f ma n y d i s e a s e s i n h u ma n s ,
a n i ma l s a n d p l a n t s
• Physical Agents: mechanical trauma,
temperature extremes, radiation, electric
shock
• Chemical Agents: toxic compounds, drugs
• Biologic Agents: viruses, bacteria, fungi,
parasites, biochemistry professors
• Genetic Disease
• Oxygen Lack: loss of blood, decreased
oxygen-carrying capacity of blood,
mitochondrial poisoning

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Disease Causes (cont.)

• Immunologic Reactions:
anaphylaxis, autoimmune disorders
• Nutritional Imbalances:
deficiencies, excesses
• Endocrine Imbalances: hormonal
deficiencies/excesses

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ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
• 2 G e n e ra l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s
1 . H YD R O C AR B O N S
• Contain only carbon and hydrogen

• AL I P A T H I C H YD R O C AR B O N S
– No benzene rings or a derivative of the
benzene ring
– ALKANES, ALKENES, AND ALKYNES
REVIEW OF BIOMOLECULES
• AR O M AT I C H YD R O C AR B O N S
– Contain a benzene ring or a derivative of
the benzene ring

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HYDROCARBONS

ALIPATHIC AROMATIC

Saturated – Unsaturated –
contain single contain 2 or
C-H bond more C-H bond

Alkanes – Alkenes – Alkynes –

contain only contain at least contain at least
single bond one double one triple bond
(ethane) bond (ethene) (ethyne)

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ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
• G e n e ra l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s
2. Substituted Hydrocarbons
• W hich one or more hydrogen atoms is
replaced by another atom or group of
atoms
• Functional group
– Is an atom or group of atoms arranged
in a particular way that is primarily
responsible for the chemical and
physical properties of the molecule in
which it is found

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FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Carbon-Oxygen Groups • Carbon-Oxygen Groups

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Carbon-Oxygen Groups • Carbon-Oxygen Groups

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Carbon-Oxygen Groups • Carbon-Oxygen Groups

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Carbon-Sulfur Groups • Carbon-Sulfur Groups

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Carbon-Nitrogen Groups • Carbon-Nitrogen Groups

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Esters and Amines • Esters and Amines

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Common Functional Groups Common Functional Groups

• Esters and Amines • Esters and Amines

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HYDROPHOBICITY vs. HYDROPHILICITY CHEMICAL BONDS

• HYDROPHOBIC • HYDROPHILIC • 2 Pri n c i p a l
• Refers to the • Refers to a physical Classes
physical property of property of a 1. Ionic Bonding
a molecule that is molecule that can • I n vo l ve s a
repelled from a mass transiently bond with transfer of one
or more
of water water (H2O) through
electrons from
hydrogen bonding one atom to
another,
leading to the
• Alkanes, oils, and formation of an
fats ionic bond

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CHEMICAL BONDS CHEMICAL BONDS

• 2 Pri n c i p a l
Cl a s s e s • Hyd ro g e n
2 . C o va l e n t Bonding
Bonding – H yd ro g e n a t o m
is bonded to a
– I n vo l ve s a s ma l l , h i g h l y
s h a ri n g p a i rs e l e c t ro n e g a t i v e
o f e l e c t ro n s atom
between
a t o ms

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PROPERTIES OF WATER

• c o mp o s e d o f t w o h yd ro g e n a t o ms
l i n k e d b y c o va l e n t b o n d s t o a s i n g l e
a t o m o f o x yg e n

Hydrogen bonding in water. Hydrogen bonds (shown as

dashed green lines) are formed between water
molecules to produce a highly ordered and open
structure.

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INTERACTIONS WITH WATER INTERACTIONS WITH WATER

• Ionic Bond or Electrostati c

• N o n c o va l e n t B o n d s Interactions

– Ionic Bond or Electrostatic Interactions

– Hydrogen Bond
– va n d e r W a a l s I n t e r a c t i o n s

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INTERACTIONS WITH WATER INTERACTIONS WITH WATER

• Hydrogen Bond • Hydrogen Bond

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INTERACTIONS WITH WATER

• van der Waals Interaction

NEXT TOPIC:
THE LIVING CELL

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