Download What is BIOCHEMISTRY?

What is BIOCHEMISTRY?
McKee & McKee: "the study
of the molecular basis of life"
Therefore, biochemistry must
focus upon the molecules and
chemical reactions that occur
within cells.
Major Chemical Elements Required
for Life:
Element
Oxygen
Atomi Atomi
Symb c No. c Wt.
ol
O
8
16
Covalent
Bonds
% Human
Composition
2
62.8
Carbon
C
6
12
4
19.4
Hydrogen
H
1
1
1
9.3
Nitrogen
N
7
14
3
5.1
Phosphor
us
Sulfur
P
15
31
5
0.6
S
16
32
2
0.6
Major Functional Groups in Organic Biomolecules
Alcohol (Hydroxyl):
Aldehyde (Carbonyl):
Ketone (Carbonyl):
Carboxylic Acid (Carboxyl):
Amines (Amino):
Thiols (Sulfhydryl):
Major Types Of Linkages Common
To Biochemistry:
Ester:
Ether:
Amide:
Phosphate ester:
C = C Double Bonds
(Alkenes):
The major macromolecules of biological
importance are polymers of simple
monomeric subunints
Polymers
Monomers
Proteins
Amino Acids
Polysaccharides Monosaccharides
Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides
Lipids
Fatty Acids + Glycerol
Amino Acids
General structure
20 common amino acids in proteins :
Know the structures of Glycine &
Cysteine
Amino acids are linked together by
peptide bonds to form polypeptides
Amino Acids are linked to tRNA's in vivo
Know the structure of a Peptide Bond:
Carbohydrates (sugars)
General chemical formula
Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
Know the structures of Glucose (a &
b) & Ribose & Deoxyribose
Monosaccharides are linked
together to form polysaccharides
Diagram simplified reaction
Lipids (Fats & Oils)
Triacylglycerols & Phospholipids
Glycerol backbone
Fatty Acids -- saturated &
unsaturated Know the structures of Fatty
Acids + Glycerol and how they are linked
together to form triacylglycerol and
phospholipids
Steroids
Cholesterol
Nucleic Acids
Polymers of Nucleotides
Structure of a Nucleotide Purine &
pyrimidine bases
Know the structure of a
Nucleotide and the difference
between purines & pyrimidines