1 | PHARMACEUTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY i

PREFACE
This Module is designed and developed in support to the continuing education of the student in
this Pandemic. It provides learning packets for “Pharmaceutical Biochemistry” and for the
implementation of Alternative learning system.

Aims:
The rationale behind the module is that students will have ample opportunities to continue
learning despite of the pandemic. The module is carefully designed and sequenced, the materials
and activities in this module aims to:

 Demonstrate appreciation of pharmacy as a health profession and the scope of practice

 Demonstrate understanding of chemical, physical, and biological processes relevant to
pharmaceutical sciences
 Recognize the importance of the healthcare system and its components
 Perform pharmaceutical calculations and appropriate laboratory techniques

How to use this module

This module comprises of Biochemistry notes, Website Links, Videos(USB) , and Worksheets. It
covers the key suggested topics in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, organized under 6 parts :
Introduction to Biochemisty , Proteins , Enzymes & Vitamins , Carbohydrates , Lipids, and
Nucliec acid. Students have 3 weeks to study every topic and answer the assessment/activity.

Website Links will contain materials helpful to the learning and teaching of particular topic.

 https://awesomechem.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/harpers-illustrated-biochemistry-28th-ed-robert-k-murray-et-al-
mcgraw-hill-2009.pdf
 http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/WebContent/orgnom/index.html
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVT3Y3_gHGg
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jwAGWky98c

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UNIT 1 : INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY

1.0 Intended Learning Outcomes

a. Understand the concept of biochemistry
b. Demonstrate knowledge on the relationship between Biochemistry and Pharmacy.
c. Demonstrate knowledge on the concepts of biochemistry, biochemical systems and
biochemical methods.

1.1 Introduction
Biochemistry
- Study of chemical reactions that
occurs at the molecular level of
organism *molecular level 
chemical property of organic
substance
*organic substance  are substance
that contain carbon-hydrogen bonds
Example: Proteins (Carbon , Hydrogen ,
Oxygen , Nitrogen )
Carbohydrates (Carbon , Hydrogen ,
Oxygen )

*Carbon  Element of Life

Figure 1. Structural level of Organism

Why Study Biochemistry?
- To know the different processes that allows organism to GROW, MULTIPLY, AGE, and
DIE
Relationship of Biochemistry & Medicine
- Normal biochemical process are basis of health
- The aim of Biochemistry is to describe and explain, all chemical processes of living cells
- Most of all disease has biochemical basis ( Figure 2)
- Understanding the maintenance of health and effective treatment of disease.
Example : Knowledge of protein structure and function was necessary to elucidate the
single biochemical difference between normal Hemoglobin and Sickle cell Hemoglobin.
*Health – a state if complete physical , mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease
*Hemoglobin  Oxygen carrying component of blood
*Sickle cell haemoglobin  condition where in the shape of haemoglobin is abnormal
Figure 2. Biochemical basis of some disease

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Figure 3. Example of cell

1.2 Topics/Discussions
1.2.1 Cell
- Basic/simplest unit of life
- Responsible for keeping an organism alive and functioning
- Every cell has different structure but there is a basic structure
that is common to all cells .
(Cytoplasm ,Cell membrane , Genetic material )

Assignment :
Search for the Different structures of cell and its Functions

Two Types of Cell

1. Prokaryotes – Unicellular organisms that lacks membrane-bound organelle
- No nucleus
*Prokaryotic cell – Simplest type of cell ( Figure 4)
Example: Bacteria

2. Eukaryotes – Organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed

Within membrane or membrane-bound organelle. ( Figure 5 )
-Contains more genetic material than prokaryotes
Example: Animals , Plants , and Fungi

NOTE: Viruses are neither prokaryote nor Eukaryote

Viruses are not made up of cell and cannot replicate on their own
Figure 4. Prokaryotic Cell (bacteria)

Figure 5. Eukaryotic Cell

Activity:
Differentiate the replication process of
Prokaryote, Eukaryote , and Virus

1.2.2 Water
- PREDOMINANT substance component of living organism

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- Average of 70% content of human body

Fundamentals of Water
- 60-95% of the living cell
- 55% is in intracellular fluid
- 45% are extracellular fluid ( 8% plasma , 22% interstitial fluid & Lymph , 15% connective
tissue , cartilage,&Bone)

Uses of Water
- Acts as a transport medium across membranes, carrying substances into and out of cells
- Water helps maintain the temperature of the body
- Water acts as a solvent (carrying dissolved chemicals) in the digestive and waste excretion
system

Complication/Disease Associated :
Dehydration – loss/lack of water
Causes: Fever , Vomiting , Diarrhea , excessive sweating , Dysuria ( pain, discomfort or burning
sensation during urination )
Sign&Symptoms : Thirsty , dry and sticky mouth , Dry and cold skin, Headache, muscle cramps
Treatment : Drinking enough water Figure 6. Person with Edema

Edema – is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in certain tissues within the body
( Figure 6 )
Treatment: Diuretics ( Furosemide [Lasix] )

Properties of Water
- Polar molecule : The hydogren atoms have a partially positive charge; the oxygen atom has
partially negative charge ( Figure 7 )
- The only substance that exist in three phases : Liqued, Solid (ice), Gas
(Vapor)
- Increase in Temperature = increase of water movement
- High Heat capacity Figure 7. Molecular structure of Water
- Has the highest surface tension next to mercury (H2O)
*Surface tension – a force present within the surface layer of a liquid that cause the layer to behave
as an elastic sheet
*Cohesive force – Forces exerted between molecules holding them together
*Adhesive force- Forces between liquid molecules and a surface
*Wetting Agent- Substances that reduces the surface tension of water
(Lowering the surface tension lowers the energy required to spread drops onto the film, thus
weakening the cohesive properties of the liquid and strengthening its adhesive properties)

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MOST IMPORTANT BIOCHEMICAL ROLE OF WATER : SOLVENT

- Water is known to be “Universal Solvent” (water dissolves more substances that any other
liquid)

1.2.3 Carbon
- Most biological important molecules are composed of organic compounds ( Carbon
containing)
- “Element of Life”
Characteristics of Carbon:
1. Carbon bonds to itself
Process: Catenation – linkage of atoms of the same element
2. Carbon bonds to other Elements (Figure 8)
- Hydrogen , Nitrogen , Oxygen , and Sulfur (Foundation of most functional group/ reactive
groups of molecule)

Two types of force :

1. Intramolecular – forces within the same molecule
2. Intermolecular – Forces between different molecules
*Covalent bonding is the Strongest bond

Hydrogen bonding – involves Hydrogen

Figure 8. Possible Bonds of Carbon

*Hydrogen must be bonded to oxygen or nitrogen

-can be intermolecular or intramolecular force

Ionic Interactions – bonds metal ion to non-metal ions

Example : Salt [NaCl] (metal + non-metal)
*Na gives one electron to Cl
*Na loses 1 electron (+) while Cl gain 1 electron (-)
*atoms with charge is called : ions

Hydrocarbons
- Compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen, with no traditional functional groups
- Not reactive
Figure 9. Root name of the compound is based upon the # of carbon atoms in the longest
continuous chain

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Types of Hydrocarbon according to bond :

Figure 10. Example of Alkanes
1. Alkanes – single bond
-add suffix -ane
*Alkyl – derived from an alkane by deleting one of
Its hydrogens
Figure 11. Example of alkyl

2. Alkenes – Double bond

-add suffix –ene
Example: CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH2 ( 1,4-Hexadiene)
3.Alkynes – triple bond
-not common in biological system
Assignment :
-add suffix -yne Review the rules in naming compounds (IUPAC)
Example: CH3-CH=CH-CΞCH ( 3-penten-1yne )

Functional Group
- Are specific substituents/moieties within molecule that are responsible for the
characteristic chemical reactions of the molecule
Oxygen
 Alcohol
 Ethers
 Esters
 Aldehyde
 Ketones
-Aldehydes and ketones both incorporate carbonyl functional group ( carbon double bonded to
oxygen [ C=O] )
-Both contain only double bonded oxgen atom
-Carbonyl functional group : The Carbon atom has two remaining bond that may be occupied by
Hydrogen, Alkyl , or Aryl group Figure 12. Chemical structure of Carbonyl,
-Aldehyde is derive its name from dehydration of alcohol Aldehyde , and Ketone
Naming aldehyde : add suffix –al
while the common name is in Parentheses
Figure 13. Common IUPAC name of Aldehydes

Example : H2C=O is methanal

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Ketone
Naming ketone: add suffix –one
- Ketone carbonyl substituents may be located anywhere within a chain or ring
- Numbering starts from the end nearest the carbonyl group

name is in Parentheses
of Ketones while the common
Figure 14. Common IUPAC name
*Naming Aldehyde and Ketone in the same molecule : Aldehyde have a priority than ketones ,
add “oxo”
Example : 4- oxopentanal , 3,4-dioxopentanal , 2-methyl-3-oxo-butanal

Assignement : Write the chemical structure of the following :

4 – oxopentanal , 3,4-dioxopentanal , 2-methyl-3-oxo-butanal

Figure 15. 2-pentanol

Alcohol
- Derivatives of hydrocarbons in which an –OH group replace a H atom
- Contain only single bonded Oxygen atom
- All alcohols have one or more –OH group
- -OH group is attached a carbon atom by covalent bond
Naming alcohol : Add suffix –ol and indicate the position of the OH group

Ethers
- Compounds that contain “-O- “ functional group
- Do not have a designated suffix
- The Oyxgen atom and the smaller carbon branch are named as alkoxy substituent and the
remainder of the molecule as the base chain as alkanes
Figure 16. Oxygen Functional Groups
Example: C2H5OCH3 (methoxyethane) or ( Ethylmethyl ether)

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Nitrogen
Amines – present in amino acid (a.a) and alkaloids
- Are molecules that contain carbon-nitrogen bonds
- Derivative of ammonia (NH3)
*primary amine – an organic group replaces one hydrogen
*secondary amine and tertiary amines – two and three organic groups, respectively replace two or
three hydrogen or three hydrogen atoms

and tertiary amine

Ammonia, Primary ,secondary,
Figure 17. Chemical structure of
Assignement : Search for examples of Primary ,
secondary , and tertiary Amines

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1.2.4 Assessment/ Activites

Name: Date
Year&Sec:
Instruction: No Erasures
Set A
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer before each number
1. Attraction between water molecules are called?
a. Covalent Bonds b. Polar Bonds c. Ionic Bonds d. Hydrogen Bonds
2. Which type of cell has membrane-bound organelles?
a. Plant cell b. Prokaryotic cell c. Fungi d. Eukaryotic cell
3. What is the name of the smallest unit that can carry out all activities associated with life?
a. atom b. cell c. organelle d. tissue
4. What property of water allows it to be such a versatile solvent that it is often called the
“universal solvent”?
a. High heat capacity b. Surface tension c. Polarity d. Adhesion
5. What word describes when water is attracted to other substances?
a. cohesion b. adhesion c. surface tension d. Polarity
6. The thick fluid region of a cell located inside the cell membrane or between the cell
membrane and nucleus
a. cytoplasm b. organelle c. cell wall d. golgi apparatus

Set B – Discuss the following :

1. Why can water have no net charge but have slight charges in different parts of the
molecule?
2. Water spiders can walk across the surface of calm water. Their feet push the surface of
the water down slightly, but they do not break the surface. Why?

Set C – Basic Hydrocarbon nomenclature & naming compound

1. Write the number of carbon indicated by each of the following rootnames
Root name # of carbon Root name # of carbon

1. Hexane 4. Pentane

2. Butane 5. Propane

3. Decane 6. Heptane

2. The line formula for a branched alkane is shown below.

Questions: Write the answer after each question

1. What is the molecular formula of this compound

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2. How many carbon

atoms are in the longest chain?
3. How many alkyl substituents are attached to this chain?

1.3 References
Stoker, H. General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, Latest Ed.
Devlin, T. Textbook of Biochemistry with clinical correlations, Latest Ed.
Smith, J. General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, Latest Ed.
Rodwell, V., Bender, D., Botham, K., Kennelly, P. & Weil, P. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry,
Latest Ed.
Figure 1 - https://opentextbc.ca/anatomyandphysiology/chapter/1-2-structural-organization-of-the-human-body-2/
Figure 2 -https://slideplayer.com/slide/11678893/
Figure 3,4,5 - https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/345158758918208389/
Figure 6 - https://www.shutterstock.com/search/edema
Figure 7 - https://pngio.com/PNG/a20113-water-molecular-structure-png.html
1.4 Acknowledgement
The images, tables, figures, and Information contained in this module were taken from the
references cited above

C. M. D. Hamo-ay