Introduction Into Biochemistry

1. Introduction IntoBiochemistry

2. 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

3. How does biochemistry impact you? • Medicine • Agriculture • Industrial applications • Environmental applications

4. 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

5. Origins of Biochemistry: A challenge to “Vitalism.” Famous Dead Biochemist!

6. 1828 Friedrich Wohler Fallacy #1: Biochemicals can only be produced by living organisms • Dead Biochemist #1

7. Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter Dead Biochemists #2 • 1897 Eduard Buchner Glucose + Dead Yeast = Alcohol

8. Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter • Emil Fischer Dead Biochemists #3

9. Organization of Life • elements • simple organic compounds (monomers) • macromolecules (polymers) • supramolecular structures • organelles • cells • tissues • organisms

10. Range of the sizes of objects studies by Biochemist and Biologist 1 angstrom = 0.1 nm

11. Important compounds, functional groups

12. Many Important Biomolecules are Polymers lipids proteins carbo nucleic acids monomer polymer supramolecular structure

13. monomer polymer supramolecular structure Lipids

14. monomer amino acid polymer protein subunit supramolecular structure Enzyme complex Proteins

15. Carbohydrates monomer polymer supramolecular structure

16. Nucleic Acids monomer polymer supramolecular structure

17. Common theme: Monomers form polymers through condensations Polymers are broken down through hydrolysis.