BIOCHEMISTRY I

BCHE-I 411

Ms. Nosheen Bashir

Lecturer
Department Of Biochemistry
Jinnah University For Women
 COURSE OUTLINE
BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry as chemical and biological science

Distribution of biomolecules in cell
The Prebiotic World
Chemical Evolution
The Evolution of Cell
Prokaryotic Cell and Eukaryotic Cell
Classification of prokaryotes taxonomy phylogeny
Cellular architecture and diversity of eukaryotes
LEARNIING OBJECTIVE:
This lesson will describe the Biochemistry, as the name implies, is the chemistry of
life. It therefore bridges the gap between chemistry, the study of the structures and
interactions of atoms and molecules, and biology, the study of the structures and
interactions of cells and organisms.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lecture you will be able to describe
• Biochemistry as chemical and biological science
• Distribution of biomolecules in cell
 Biochemistry as chemical and
biological sciences
Bio= life
Chemistry = how things interact
Biochemistry= the branch of science in which you study the
chemical and physical processes that occur in an organism.
What is Biochemistry?
• Biochemistry is a branch of medical science that
seeks to describe the structure, organization and
functions of living matter in molecular terms
• It is the chemistry of life.
It is divided into 3 principal areas:
 Structural chemistry
 Metabolism
 Chemistry of molecular genetics
 Biochemistry
Biochemistry is closely related to molecular biology, the
study of the molecular mechanisms by which genetic
information encoded in DNA is able to result in the
processes of life. Depending on the exact definition of the
terms used, molecular biology can be thought of as a
branch of biochemistry, or biochemistry as a tool with
which to investigate and study molecular biology.
 Biochemistry
Much of biochemistry deals with the structures, functions
and interactions of biological macromolecules, such as
proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids, which
provide the structure of cells and perform many of the
functions associated with life. The chemistry of the cell
also depends on the reactions of smaller molecules and
ions. These can be inorganic, for example water and metal
ions, or organic, for example the amino acids which are
used to synthesize proteins. The mechanisms by which
cells harness energy from their environment via chemical
reactions are known as metabolism.
 Biochemistry
SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Over the last decades of the 20th century,
biochemistry become so successful at explaining living
processes that now almost all areas of the life sciences
from botany to medicine to genetics are engaged in
biochemical research. Today, the main focus of pure
biochemistry is in understanding how biological
molecules give rise to the processes that occur within
living cells, which in turn relates greatly to the study
and understanding of whole organisms.
 Biochemistry
APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
• The findings of biochemistry are applied primarily in medicine, nutrition, and
agriculture.
• In medicine, biochemists investigate the causes and cures of disease. In
nutrition, they study how to maintain health and study the effects of
nutritional deficiencies.
• In agriculture, biochemists investigate soil and fertilizers, and try to discover
ways to improve crop cultivation, crop storage and pest control.
• Much of biochemistry deals with the structures and functions of cellular
components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other
biomolecules—although increasingly processes rather than individual
molecules are the main focus.
 The origin of life
Biomolecules

Living matter consists of 6 elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and
sulfur. These elements constitute about 90% of dry weight of body.
Other elements are also present.
All biomolecules contain a Carbon chain or ring

There are 4 types of biomolecules in our bodies

 Carbohydrates
 Lipids (fats)
 Proteins
 Nucleic acid (DNA)

These are large molecules (polymer) that are made up of smaller

building blocks (monomers)
 Protein
Proteins are highly complex substance that is present in all
living organisms. Proteins are of great nutritional value and
are directly involved in the chemical processes essential for
life.
The importance of proteins was recognized by chemists in
the early 19th century, including Swedish chemist Jons Jacob
Berzelius, who in 1838 coined the term protein, a word
derived from the Greek proteios, meaning “holding first
place.”
 Proteins
Elements: C, H, O, N, or S
(sulfur)
Functions:
Hemoglobin in your blood
that carries oxygen
Muscles, tendons, hair
Defend body from
microorganisms
Control chemical reactions-
enzymes
Carry out almost all of the
body’s everyday functions
Building block-amino acids
 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate is the class of naturally occurring
compounds and derivatives formed from them. In the
early part of the 19th century, substances such as wood,
starch, and linen were found to be composed mainly of
molecules containing atoms of carbon (C), hydrogen (H),
and oxygen (O) and to have the general formula C6H12O6;
other organic molecules with similar formulas were
found to have a similar ratio of hydrogen to oxygen. The
general formula Cx(H2O)y is commonly used to represent
many carbohydrates, which means “watered carbon.
 Carbohydrates
Elements-C, H, O
Function: Main source of energy, gives plants tough structure
Examples: sugars and starches, glycogen, sucrose, glucose, cellulose
Shape-rings connected
Building Block-monosaccharide
Types: Based on size
Monosaccharide-one sugar
Glucose, galactose (found in milk), fructose (found in fruit)
Disaccharide-two sugars
lactose
Polysaccharide-many sugars
Cellulose-makes plants have a rigid structure
Glycogen-animal starch
 Lipids
Lipid are any of a diverse group of organic
compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and
certain components of membranes that are
grouped together because they do not interact
appreciably with water. One type of lipid, the
triglycerides, is sequestered as fat in adipose cells,
which serve as the energy-storage depot for
organisms and also provide thermal insulation.
 Lipids
Elements-C, H, O
Has the most energy but we can’t
consume tons of fat; part of
membranes; insulation
Structure-long chain of carbons
attached
Examples: cholesterol, wax,
steroids, oils
Building Block-fatty acids and
glycerol
 Nucleic acid
Nucleic acid are naturally occurring chemical compound
that is capable of being broken down to yield phosphoric
acid, sugars, and a mixture of organic bases (purines and
pyrimidines). Nucleic acids are the main information-
carrying molecules of the cell, and, by directing the
process of protein synthesis, they determine the inherited
characteristics of every living thing. The two main classes
of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and
ribonucleic acid (RNA).
 Nucleic acid
Contains the genetic
information
DNA (deoxyribose sugar) and
RNA (ribose sugar)
Building blocks: nucleotides
Elements: C, H, O, N, P
Prokaryotic Cell and Eukaryotic Cell
MITOCHONDRIA
Involve in cellular respiration and energy metabolism.
They are the power house of the cell.
They are principal producers of ATP in aerobic cell
Rodlike structures
Composed of a double membrane
The outer membrane is smooth and covers the organelle
The inner membrane is folded to form cristae.
The internal chamber of mitochondria is referred to as the matrix
Components of ETC and oxidative phosphorylation are present in the inner
mitochondrial membrane
The matrix contains enzymes for the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and
amino acids.
The matrix contains enzymes for the synthesis of heme and urea.
Mitochondria has its own protein synthesizing machinery as it is equipped with
circular double-stranded DNA (mtDNA) RNA and ribosomes in the matrix.
powerhouse
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
They are networks of membrane-enclosed spaces that extend throughout the
cytoplasm
Ribosomes are involved in protein biosynthesis
The majority of the ER has ribosomes that give it a granular appearance known
as rough ER.
Smooth ER is involved in the synthesis of lipids and the metabolism of drugs.

GOLGI APPARATUS
In eukaryotes, a cluster of membrane vesicles is called dictyosomes which then
convert into Golgi bodies.
The newly formed proteins are transferred to the Golgi apparatus which
modifies the protein by adding carbohydrates, lipids or sulfate moieties, this
modification is important for the transport of protein across the plasma
membrane.
They are also involved in the synthesis of membranes, particularly for
organelles e.g lysosomes, peroxisomes, etc.
Some proteins and enzymes are also enclosed the membrane vesicle of the
Golgi apparatus.
LYSOSOMES:
Ther are spherical in shape and surrounded by a single membrane
They are the digestive tract of the cell as they contain enzymes for the
digestion of cellular substances like carb, aminoacids, proteins lipids.
Lysosomal enzymes are categorized as hydrolases.
Lysosomal enzymes maintain cellular compounds by their degradation and
recycling.

PEROXISOMES:
Also known as microbodies
They are surrounded by a single membrane
Spherical or oval in shape
Contain enzyme catalase which protects the cell from the toxic effects of
hydrogen peroxide by converting it into water and oxygen.
They take part in the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, synthesis of
plasmalogens and glycolipids
Plants contain glyoxysomes, a special type of peroxisomes involve in the
glyoxylate pathway.
Prokaryotic cells are cells that do not have a true nucleus or membrane-bound
organelles. Organisms within the domains Bacteria and Archaea have prokaryotic
cells
Organisms that have prokaryotic cells are unicellular and are called prokaryotes.
Prokaryotic cells can be contrasted with eukaryotic cells, which are more complex.
Prokaryotic cells divide through the process of binary fission.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS

• Harper's Review of Biochemistry by R.K Murray et al, 27th Edition. Lange

Medical Publication, 2012.
• Biochemistry Textbook by U Satyanarayana, Elsevier; 4 edition (2013)
• Biochemistry Textbook by U Satyanarayana, Elsevier; 6 edition (2022)
• Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger, A.L. 5th edition. Worth New York.
U.S.A,2008.
• Biochemistry by Voet, D., Voet, G.J. 4th edition. Willy and Sons INC. N.Y, 2010.