Course code: BCM150

Program: DIPLOMA IN MICROBIOLOGY

Program code: AS114

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory course in basic

biochemistry concepts in the following topics: carbohydrate, fatty acids, enzymes, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids and metabolism.

COURSE OUTCOME Upon completion of this course, students should be able

to:

1. Define the basic constituents of macromolecules (carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids) and enzymes.

2. Describe the classification, structure and functions of macromolecules (carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids) and enzymes.

3. Explain and identify the basic energy generated processes.

What is Biochemistry? It is the study of chemistry of living

things.

DNA, enzymes, fats, carbohydrates and hormones are all part of the discipline of Biochemistry.

Lead us to fundamental understanding of life

How organisms store & transfer information, how food digested, how a brain cell store information….

Understand the important issues in medicine, health & nutrition – can search cures for HIV, diabetes, recombinant DNA help in find new mutation and new plant

Advance biotechnology industries

the application of biological materials to technical useful operation e.g.- enzymes in the pharmaceutical industry to synthesis complex drugs

WHY STUDY BIOCHEMISTRY?

Biochemistry explains the essential processes of life and has large impact on:

Biotechnology and bioinformatics

Cell biology and signalling

Development and disease

Energy and metabolism

Genetics

Molecular biology

Plant biology

Biochemists:

Provide new ideas and experiments, essential for understanding how life works

Support our understanding of health and disease

Drive the discovery of new ways to use molecular systems and their biological functions

Contribute essential innovative information to the technology revolution

Work together as part of a team with chemists, physicists, healthcare professionals, government policy makers, engineers, zoologists, environmental scientists, sales and marketing managers, journalists and other professionals from a variety of different disciplines

Biochemists have high-value jobs that influence work in:

Hospitals, university research departments, agriculture, food institutes, education, scientific law, cosmetic industries, forensic crime research, industrial laboratories, drug manufacturing, biotechnology, publishing, sales and marketing, government administration, science writing and many more…

THREE AREAS TO STUDY

1 2 3

1. Structural and functional

biochemistry

Focuses on discovering

chemical structures & 3-

dimentional arrangements of

biomolecules

2. Informational biochemistry

Defines language (s) for storing

biological data & transmitting it

in cells and organisms

3. Bioenergetics

the flow of energy in living

organisms and how it

transferred from one process to

another – study of metabolism

1 2 3

Field of Biochemistry draws many disciplines - allows us to answer questions related to molecular nature of life

Organic chemistry: the study of the compounds of carbon

A biomolecule is a molecule that naturally occurs in living organisms.

Biomolecules consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen, along with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.

Biomolecules - proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids.

1. BIOMOLECULES?

Biomolecules (Cont’d) • Living cells include very large molecules, such as proteins,

nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids

– biomolecules are polymers (Greek: poly + meros, many + parts)

– are derived from monomers (Greek: mono + meros, single + part) amino acids --> proteins

nucleotides --> nucleic acids

monosaccharides --> polysaccharides

glycerol and 3 fatty acids --> lipids

Biomolecules (Cont’d) • Enzymes: a class of proteins that are biocatalysts

– the catalytic effectiveness of an enzyme depends on its amino acid sequence

• Genetic code: the relationship between the nucleotide sequence in nucleic acids and the amino acid sequence in proteins

Biomolecules (Cont’d) • Functional

group: an atom or group of atoms that shows characteristic physical and chemical properties

Biomolecules

Oxidation and Reduction Oxidation-Reduction reactions are those in which electrons

are transferred from a donor to an acceptor

oxidation: the loss of electrons; the substance that loses the electrons is called a reducing agent

reduction: the gain of electrons; the substance that gains the electrons is called an oxidizing agent

Carbon in most reduced form- alkane

Carbon in most oxidized form- CO2

What makes water polar What is a polar bond:

• Electrons are unequally shared, more negative charge found closer to one atom.

• Due to difference in electronegativity of atoms involved in bond.

Solvent Properties of H2O Hydrophilic: water-loving

tend to dissolve in water

Hydrophobic: water-fearing

tend not to dissolve in water

Amphipathic: has characteristics of both properties

molecules that contain one or more hydrophobic and one or more hydrophilic regions, e.g., sodium palmitate

Hydrogen Bonds • Hydrogen bond: the attractive interaction between dipoles

when:

– positive end of one dipole is a hydrogen atom bonded to an atom of high electronegativity, most commonly O or N, and

– the negative end of the other dipole is an atom with a lone pair of electrons, most commonly O or N

• Hydrogen bond is non-covalent

Hydrogen Bonding Even though hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds,

they have a significant effect on the physical properties of hydrogen-bonded compounds

Other Biologically Important Hydrogen bonds

• Hydrogen bonding is important in stabilization of 3-D

structures of biological molecules such as: DNA, RNA, proteins.

2. CENTRAL

DOGMA? Biological information flow from DNA RNA

PROTEIN

Informational Macromolecules

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes • Prokaryote: Greek derivation meaning “before the

nucleus” – single-celled organisms

– include bacteria and cyanobacteria

• Eukaryote: Greek derivation meaning “true nucleus”

• contain a well-defined nucleus surrounded by a

nuclear membrane

• can be single celled, such as yeasts and Paramecium, or multicellular, such as animals and plants

Comparison of Prokaryotes and

Eukaryotes

• Important organelles listed in table 1.3

A Comparison of a typical animal cell, plant

cell, and prokaryotic cell

3. METABOLISM: how cells acquire, transform, store

and use energy/ATP

ATP = ENERGY

Entrance survey

~End of chapter~