INTRODUCTION TO

BIOCHEMISTRY
What is biochemistry
• Biochemistry or biological chemistry, is the study
of chemical processes within and relating to
living organisms.

Biochemistry may be divided into three fields:

structural biology
enzymology
metabolism
Cont..
• Biochemistry deals with the bonding, functions, and
interactions of biological macromolecules
• Provide the structure of cells and perform many of the
functions associated with life.
• The chemistry of the cell also depends upon the
reactions of small molecules and ions
Applications of biochemistry
The findings of biochemistry are applied primarily
in medicine nutrition and agriculture.
• In medicine, biochemists investigate the causes
and cures of diseases.
• Nutrition studies how to maintain health and wellness
and also the effects of nutritional deficiencies.
• In agriculture, biochemists
investigate soil and fertilizers. Improving crop
cultivation, crop storage, and pest control are also
goals.
Basic Definitions
• Biomolecules: The 4 main classes of molecules in bio-
chemistry (often called biomolecules)
are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid
• MONOMER: molecule having a single unit that can
react with other molecules
• POLYMER: monomers linked together to create
large macromolecules known as polymers.
Cont..
Carbohydrates
large group of organic compounds occurring in foods
and living tissues, including sugars, starch, and
cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the
same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken
down to release energy in the animal body.
Cont..
Proteins:
any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds which
have large molecules composed of one or more long
chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all
living organisms, especially as structural components of
body tissues such as muscle, hair, etc., and as enzymes
and antibodies.
Cont..
Lipids
any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their
derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic
solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
Cont..
Nucleic acid
a complex organic substance present in living cells,
especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of
many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
Cont..
• Polymerization: a process of reacting monomer
molecules together in a chemical reaction to form
polymer chains or three-dimensional networks

• Dehydration reaction :also known as Zimmer's

Hydrogenesis, is a chemical reaction that involves the
loss of water from the reacting molecule or ion
Cont..
Metabolism
the process by which your body converts what you eat
and drink into energy, it is further divided into
anabolism(building up) and catabolism ( breaking
down)
Cont..
• Glycolysis: the breakdown of glucose by enzymes,
releasing energy and pyruvic acid.
• Gluconeogenesis: Gluconeogenesis refers to synthesis
of new glucose from non carbohydrate precursors,
provides glucose when dietary intake is insufficient or
absent. ... Gluconeogenesis occurs in liver and
kidneys. The precursors of gluconeogenesis are lactate,
glycerol, amino acids, and with propionate making a
minor contribution.
Cont..
• Saccharide: it is the term used for
sugars( carbohydrates)
• Monosaccharide: Monosaccharides, also called
simple sugars, any of the class of sugars (e.g. glucose)
that cannot be hydrolyzed to give a simpler sugar.
They are usually colorless, water-soluble, and
crystalline solids.
Cont..
Disaccharide
A disaccharide is the sugar formed when two
monosaccharides are joined by glycosidic linkage. Like
monosaccharaides, disaccharides are simple sugars
soluble in water. examples are sucrose, lactose, and
maltose.
Cont..
• Oligosaccharide: An oligosaccharide is a saccharide
polymer containing a small number of
monosaccharides.

• Polysaccharide: They are long chain polymeric

carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units
bound together by glycosidic linkages.
Cont..
• Fatty acids: the building blocks of the fat in our
bodies and in the food we eat. During digestion, the
body breaks down fats into fatty acids, which can then
be absorbed into the blood
• Triglycerides: Fatty acid molecules are usually joined
together in groups of three, forming a molecule called
a triglyceride.
THANK YOU
.