Pharm 211: Biochemistry

Unit 1: Definition of Biochemistry

Biochemistry administration
 Chemistry of Life Enzymology Study of Enzymes
 Study of chemical substances found in living organisms and
their interactions with each other e.g.
o Molecules in living cells Inhibitor of HMG CoA
o Chemical reactions reductase, the rate-limiting
o Catalyst reactions step in cholesterol synthesis
o Metabolic processes Pharmacodynamics Action & effects of drug inside
the body
 Known as basic language of all biological sciences as life
depends on biochemical reactions
e.g.
o Complete understanding at molecular level of all
Depletion of intracellular
chemical processes
cholesterol but elevated
liver enzymes may occur
Biochemical Substances
Clinical Pharmacology Effects of drug usage &
 A chemical substance found within a living organism understanding therapies
 Bioorganic substances – ¼ of body mass
e.g.
First line of treatment for
BIOINORGANIC Water (About atherosclerotic
SUBSTANCES 70%) cardiovascular disease
Substances that do (ASCVD) and
Inorganic Salts
not contain carbon hyperlipidemia
(about 5%)
BIOCHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES Proteins (about
15%) Essence of Biochemistry to Life Sciences
Lipids (about  Biochemistry is correlated to different life sciences such as:
BIOORGANIC
SUBSTANCES 8%) Genetics
Substances that Carbohydrates  Biochemistry of nucleic acid
contain carbon (about 2%)  Approaches to understand a disease
e.g.
Nucleic Acids
(about 2%) Familial Hypercholesterolemia
o Genetics help understand cell receptors
Branches o Cellular uptake mechanism of cholesterol
Medical Biochemistry Pharmacogenetics
 Human and Health Disease  Science relating to effects of genes during drug response
 Assist in functioning of traditional and pathologic organisms  Genes involved in changing metabolic rate
 Directs clinical laboratories, consults, diagnosis and treat  Can enhance safety and efficacy of clinical therapy through
patients dose adjustment and alternative drug therapy
 Helps in operation and management of laboratories
Clinical Chemistry Researchers found out that certain individuals can metabolize anti-
 A field that focuses on the methodology and interpretation of bacterial drugs quickly, making them resistant to these group of
chemical tests performed to support diagnosis and treatment drugs thus affecting its effectiveness
Medical Chemist
 Personnel involved in operation & management of Physiology
laboratories  Study of body function, overlaps with biochemistry almost
 Direct clinical laboratories, consults, diagnosis & treats completely
patients  Biochemical changes in relation to physiological alteration in
o Metabolic disorders the body
o Biochemical characterization o Helps understand biological processes (e.g., digestion,
Pharmaceutical Biochemistry hormonal action, and muscle contraction & relaxation)
 Involves how drugs affect the biochemistry and metabolism e.g.
of human health and sickness Oncogenes in cancer cells
 Production of medicines o Studies have directed their attention to the molecular
 Clinical uses & adverse effects mechanisms involved in the control of normal cell
 Understanding of chemical processes growth
 Molecular targets and characterization Immunology
 Biochemistry provides qualitative and quantitative analysis
PHARMACY CORE DISCIPLINES of biological fluids (e.g., blood serum, plasma, urine, tissues)
that are useful for evaluation of immune factors
(Example: Atorvastatin)
Drug Delivery Appropriate dosage form/route of
administration
e.g.
e.g. Convalescent Plasma Therapy
10 – 80 mg tablet daily check o Use of plasma containing antibodies from a newly
lipid levels after 2 – 4 weeks
and adjust dose
recovered COVID-19 patient given to currently
movement of drug (administration - infected patients to help boost their immune system
Pharmacokinetics to fight the infection
excretion)
Pharmacology
e.g.  Most drugs are metabolized by enzyme-catalyzed reactions
Absorption rate varies from  Biochemistry is used to suggest rational treatment of disease
30 – 85% following PO based on fundamental causes and mechanisms of diseases
Pharm 211: Biochemistry
 Biochemistry assists in monitoring patient response and
efficacy of prescribed therapy
e.g.
Atorvastatin
o First line of treatment against ASCVD
o Dose adjustment can be done upon checking lipid
level
o Side effects monitoring through liver enzymes
Toxicology
 Biochemistry in toxicological assessments
o Routine examination of blood chemistry (to confirm
presence of poison)
o Metabolic fate of poisons
o Stage and effects to organs
o Mechanism of toxicity
Pathology
 Biochemistry reveals the fundamental causes & mechanisms
 Screening Tests
o Procedures conducted for early diagnosis of certain
diseases
Medicine
 Understanding and maintenance of health
 Understanding and effective treatment of diseases
e.g.
Sickle Cell Disease
o Knowledge of protein structure & function is
necessary to elucidate the single biochemical
difference between normal hemoglobin & sickle cell
hemoglobin which lead to a discovery that sickle
disease is an inherited RBC disorder in which the
hemoglobin changes its shape that easily lyses
Biochemistry as Basis of Health & Sciences
Health
 Depends in a harmonious balance of biochemical reactions
occurring in the body
 A situation in which all of many thousands of intracellular
and extracellular reactions that occur in the body are
proceeding at rates commensurate with the organism’s
maximal survival in the physiological state.
disease
Uses of Biochemical Studies
To Reveal the Fundamental Causes & Mechanisms of
Diseases
 Nature and analysis of genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis
and sickle cell anemia
To Suggest Rational Treatments of Diseases Based on the
Fundamental Causes & Mechanisms of Diseases
 A diet low in phenylalanine for treatment of phenylketonuria
to prevent further build-up of amino acid
 Atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia
To Assist in the Diagnosis of Specific Diseases
 Blood glucose level of >120mg/dL indicates diabetes
mellitus
 An abnormally high serum creatinine indicates kidney
problem
To Act as Screening Tests for Early Diagnosis of Certain
Diseases
 Antenatal Screening
o For prenatal diagnosis (aimed at detecting conditions
with severe consequences possible for pregnancy
termination)
 Neonatal Screening
o For congenital hypothyroidism (for early detection of
metabolic disorders e.g., measurements of TSH)
To Assist in the Monitoring the Progress of Certain
Diseases
 High glycates hemoglobin for poor response to hypoglycemic
agent
 Renal and liver function tests for drug efficacy and detection
of possible toxicity

Caring for health of patients requires not only wide Biochemical approaches are often fundamental in
knowledge of biologic principles but also psychologic and illuminating the causes of disease and in designing
social principles appropriate therapies.

 Maintenance of health
o Optimal intake of vitamins, certain amino acids, certain
fatty acids, various minerals, and water
 Systematic attempts to maintain health and forestall disease
such as preventive medicine
Disease
 Manifestation of abnormalities in biomolecules, biochemical
reactions or chemicals
Major Factors
Physical Agents Trauma, temperature,
atmospheric pressure,
radiation, and electric shock
Chemical Agents Illicit, therapeutic drugs, and
toxic compounds
Biologic Agents Pathogens (e.g., viruses,
bacteria, fungi, helminths,
protozoa)
Lack of Oxygen Loss of blood supply
(depletion of oxygen-carrying
capacity of blood e.g.,
hemoglobin) poisoning of the
oxidative enzymes
Genetic Disorders Congenital, molecular/
metabolic
Nutritional Imbalances Deficiencies, excesses
Endocrine Imbalances Hormonal deficiencies,
excesses
Immunologic Reactions Anaphylaxis, autoimmune