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BCH 400/600 – Introductory Biochemistry. Instructor: David Shintani Office: 311C Fleischmann Ag. Lab: 308 Fleischmann Ag. E-mail: shintani@unr.edu Phone: (775) 784-4631. After BCH 400. BCH 400 is heavy on content!!!. Before BCH 400. Come to class!!!!!!. Try not to fall behind!!.
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BCH 400/600 – Introductory Biochemistry Instructor: David Shintani Office: 311C Fleischmann Ag. Lab: 308 Fleischmann Ag. E-mail: shintani@unr.edu Phone: (775) 784-4631
After BCH 400 BCH 400 is heavy on content!!! Before BCH 400
Review lecture notes. http://www.ag.unr.edu/shintani/bch400-600/index.html • Read book chapters.
Use tools to memorize Histidine?
Participate in the clicker system!!! 20 extra credit points!!
Feel Free to see me! My office hours are Tuedays from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Or e-mail me for a private audience
What is Biochemistry? • Biochemistry = chemistry of life. • Biochemists use physical and chemical principles to explain biology at the molecular level. • Basic principles of biochemistry are common to all living organism
How does biochemistry impact you? • Medicine • Agriculture • Industrial applications • Environmental applications
Principle Areas of Biochemistry • Structure and function of biological macromolecules • Metabolism – anabolic and catabolic processes. • Molecular Genetics – How life is replicated. Regulation of protein synthesis
Once upon a time, a long long time ago….. Vitalism: idea that substances and processes associated with living organisms did not behave according to the known laws of physics and chemistry Evidence: • Only living things have a high degree of complexity • Only living things extract, transform and utilize energy from their environment • Only living things are capable of self assembly and self replication
Origins of Biochemistry: A challenge to “Vitalism.” Famous Dead Biochemist!
1828 Friedrich Wohler • Dead Biochemist #1 Fallacy #1: Biochemicals can only be produced by living organisms
Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter Dead Biochemists #2 • 1897 Eduard Buchner Glucose + Dead Yeast = Alcohol
Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter • Emil Fischer Dead Biochemists #3
1926 J.B. Sumner Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter Dead Biochemists #4
Findings of other famous dead biochemist • 1944 Avery, MacLeod and McCarty identified DNA as information molecules • 1953 Watson (still alive) and Crick proposed the structure of DNA • 1958 Crick proposed the central dogma of biology
Organization of Life • elements • simple organic compounds (monomers) • macromolecules (polymers) • supramolecular structures • organelles • cells • tissues • organisms
Range of the sizes of objects studies by Biochemist and Biologist 1 angstrom = 0.1 nm
Elements of Life Most abundant, essential for all organisms: C, N, O, P, S, H Less abundant, essential for all organisms : Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cl Trace levels, essential for all organism: Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn Trace levels, essential for some organisms: V, Cr, Mo, B, Al, Ga, Sn, Si, As, Se, I,
Many Important Biomolecules are Polymers lipids proteins carbo nucleic acids monomer polymer supramolecular structure
monomer polymer supramolecular structure Lipids
monomer amino acid polymer protein subunit supramolecular structure Enzyme complex Proteins
Carbohydrates monomer polymer supramolecular structure
Nucleic Acids monomer polymer supramolecular structure
Common theme: Monomers form polymers through condensations Polymers are broken down through hydrolysis.
Cellular Organization of an E. coli Cell 200 – 300 mg protein / mL cytoplasm