MLT435 General Biochemistry

Norhisham Haron
Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies
Faculty of Health Sciences
UiTM Selangor Puncak Alam Campus
 Describe the role of biochemistry in
life sciences and its relation to health
and disease.
 List and describe the properties water.
 Discuss the concept of pH, acid and
base, and Henderson-Hasselbach
equation.
 Describe the function of buffer solution.
 The study of the chemical constituents of living cells and of the
reactions and process they undergo.
 Encompasses large area of cell biology, molecular biology, and
molecular genetics.
 Aim of biochemistry:
i. Understand all of the chemical processes associated with
living cells, at the molecular level.
ii. Understand the origin of life and integrate the biochemical
knowledge into efforts to maintain health.
iii. Understand disease and treat them effectively.
1. Energy
2. Simple molecules
3. Chemical mechanism
 Elements

 Simple organic compounds (monomers)

 Macromolecules (polymers)
 Supramolecular structures
Organelles
Cells
Tissues
Organisms
Molecules
 Formed when two or more atoms unite on the basis of their
electron structures
 Can be made of like atoms or atoms of different elements

Compounds
 Composed of two or more elements
 Chemical bonds hold the atoms together in a molecule
 There are 2 types of chemical bonds IONIC and COVALENT
 Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic acid
 Each of these types of molecules are polymers that
are assembled from single units called monomers.
 Each type of macromolecule is an assemblage of a
different type of monomer.
 Monomers form polymers through condensations.
 Polymers are broken down through hydrolysis.
 Structure and function of cellular components (i.e.) proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules
 Metabolism (catabolic and anabolic processes) and its
regulation
 Molecular Genetics:
i. Gene expression and modulation
ii. Regulation of protein synthesis
iii. How life is replicated
DNA RNA Protein
 Organisms are constituted of 70 – 90% water.
 Normal metabolic activity can occur only
when cells are at least 65% of water.
 Macromolecular components assume shapes
in response to water.
 Represents an energized condition essential
to biological mechanisms of energy
transformation.
1. Polarity
2. Hydrogen bonds
3. Universal solvent
4. Hydrophobic interactions
5. Other noncovalent interactions in
biomolecules
6. Nucleophilic nature of water
7. Ionization of water
 Water: H2O
 2 H atoms are linked covalently to oxygen, each sharing an
electron pair
 Nonlinear arrangement, bond angel 104.50
 Oxygen atom more electronegative than H atom POLAR
covalent bond
 Creates a permanent dipole in H2O molecule
 Water molecules attract to each other due to polarity
 H-bonds: attraction of one slightly +ve H atom of one water
molecule and one slightly –ve O atom of another water
molecule
 1 water molecule can form H-bond with 4 other water
molecules
 H-bonds weaker than covalent bonds
 H-bonds give water a HIGH:
a) Melting point
b) Specific heat
c) Heat of vaporization
 Water interact with and dissolve other polar and ionize
(electrolytes) compounds
 Water aligning around electrolytes to form solvation spheres
 Solubility depends on polarity and ability to form H-bonds
 F(x) groups on molecules that confer solubility: carboxylates,
protonated amines, amino, hydroxyl and carbonyl
 Nonpolar molecules NOT soluble in water, hydrophobic
 Amphiphatic molecule: have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic
portions
 Eg: detergents and surfactants
 Form micelles in aqueous solution
 Used to trap grease and oils inside to remove them
 Four major noncovalent forces involved in structure and
function of biomolecules:
i. H-bonds
ii. Hydrophobic interactions
iii. Ionic bonds
iv. van der Waals forces
 Nucleophiles: electron-rich
 Electrophiles: electron-deficient
 Nucleophiles are negatively charged and have unshared
electrons pairs; attack electrophiles during substitution or
addition reactions
 Pure water ionizes, act as an acid or base
 H2O H+ + OH-
 Equilibrium constant for water:
Keq = [H+] [OH-] / [H2O] = 1.8 x 10-16 M at 250 C,

if [H2O] is 55.5 M 1 liter of H2O is 1000 g

1 mole of H2O is 18 g
 Rearrange equation:

1.8 x 10-16 M (55.5 M) = [H+] [OH-]

1.0 x 10-14 M2 = [H+] [OH-]

 At equilibrium, [H+] = [OH-], so

1.0 x 10-14 M2 = [H+]2

1.0 x 10-7 = [H+]
 pH = negative logarithm of the H ion concentration
 pH = - log 10 [H+]
 At equilibrium, pH = - log 10 [1.0 x 10-7] = 7 (neutral)
 Low pH represent highest [H+] (and lowest [OH-] )
 1 change in pH units equals a 10-fold change in [H+]
 Strong acid/base vs.Weak acid/base
 Equation of weak acid or base:
HA H+ + A-
(weak acid) (conjugate acid) (conjugate base)

 The equilibrium constant for this reaction is defined as the acid

dissociation constant or Ka
 Ka = [H+] [ conjugate base or A-] / [HA]

pKa = -log Ka (similar to pH)

 pKa measures acid strength. The more dissociation the acid, the
lower the pKa, the stronger the acid.
 Ka = [H+] [A-] / [HA]

log Ka = log [H+] [A-] / [HA]

log Ka = log [H+] + log [A-] / [HA]

-log [H+] = -log Ka + log [A-] / [HA]

 H-H equation defined the pH of a solution in terms of pKa and
log of conjugation base and weak acid concentrations.
 If [A-] = [HA], then
pH = pKa + log 1
pH = pKa
 pKa values of weak acid determined by titration
 Can calculate pH of solution as increasing amounts of base are
added
 Solution that prevent changes in pH when bases or acids added
 Consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base
 Work best at + 1 pH unit from pKa
 Eg: blood plasma-carbon dioxide-carbonic acid-bicarbonate
buffer system

CO2 +H2O H2CO3 HCO3- + H+