Introduction to Biochemistry

Department of Biochemistry
Introduction
 What is the Biochemistry?

 History and development

 How to study Biochemistry?

1. Biochemistry
 Definition: The chemistry of life
 The science concerned with the chemical
basis of life.
 The science concerned with the various
molecules that occur in living cells and
organisms and with their chemical reaction.
 Anything more than a superficial
comprehension of life – in all its diverse
manifestation - demands a knowledge of
biochemistry.
Biochemistry
 Aim: to describe and explain, in
molecular terms, all chemical
processes of living cells
 Structure-function
 Metabolism and Regulation
 How life began？
Biochemistry
 Significance: be essential to all life
sciences as the common knowledge
 Genetics; Cell biology; Molecular biology
 Physiology and Immunology
 Pharmacology and Pharmacy
 Toxicology; Pathology; Microbiology
 Zoology and Botany
Biochemistry
 Medical students who acquire a sound
knowledge of biochemistry will be in a
strong position to deal with two central
concerns of the health sciences:
(1) the understanding and maintenance of
health
(2) the understanding and effective
treatment of disease
 Causes of cancers
 Molecular lesions causing various genetic
diseases
 Rational design of new drugs
2. History and development of
Biochemistry

1903, Neuberg (German):

“Biochemistry”

“Chemistry of Life”
Two notable breakthroughs

(1) Discovery of the role of enzymes

as catalysts
(2) Identification of nucleic acids as
information molecules

Flow of information: from nucleic acids to proteins

DNA RNA Protein
Some historic events
 In 1937， Krebs for the discovery of the
Citric Acid Cycle-won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 1953
 In 1953，Watson & Crick for the discovery
of the “DNA Double Helix” -won the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962
 In 1955，Sanger for the determination of
insulin sequence- won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 1956
 In 1980， Sanger & Gilbert for Sequencing
of DNA-won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in
1980

 In 1993, Kary B. Mullis for invention of PCR

method -won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in
1993
 Transgenic
Gene engineering animal

Clone Green Fluorescence protein

HGP from 1990, completed in 2003
3.What dose the Biochemistry discuss?
 structure and function of cellular
components
 proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic
acids and other biomolecules

 Metabolism and Regulation

 Gene expression and modulation

DNA RNA Protein

Polymers and Monomers
 Each of these types of molecules are
polymers that are assembled from
single units called monomers.

 Each type of macromolecule is an

assemblage of a different type of
monomer.
Macromolecule Monomer

Carbohydrates Monosaccharide

Lipids Not always polymers;

Hydrocarbon chains

Proteins Amino acids

Nucleic acids Nucleotides

How do monomers form polymers?
 In condensation
reactions (also
called dehydration
synthesis), a
molecule of water
is removed from
two monomers as
they are connected
together.
 Anabolic

 Building block  Macromolecule

 Simple sugar  Polysaccharide
 Amino acid  Protein (peptide)
 Nucleotide  RNA or DNA
 Fatty acid  Lipid
Catabolic
 4. Cells
 Basic building blocks of life
 Smallest living unit of an organism
 A cell may be an entire organism (unicellular)
or it may be one of billions of cells that
make up the organism (multicellular).
 Grow, reproduce, use energy, adapt, respond
to their environment

 Many cannot be seen with the naked eye

 a typical cell size is 10µm; a typical cell mass is
1 nanogram.)
Cells May be Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic

 Prokaryotes (Greek: pro-before;

karyon-nucleus) include various
bacteria
 lack a nucleus or membrane-bound
structures called organelles

 Eukaryotes (Greek: eu-true; karyon-

nucleus) include most other cells
(plants, fungi, & animals)
 have a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles
•Cell membrane & cell wall • Cell Membrane
•Nucleoid region contains the DNA • Nucleus
•Contain ribosomes (no membrane) • Cytoplasm with organelles
Characteristic Bio-membranes and Organelles

•Plasma Membrane-Cell’s defining boundary

Providing a barrier and containing
transport and signaling systems.

•Nucleus – Cell’s information center

Double membrane surrounding the chromosomes and
the nucleolus. The place where almost all DNA
replication and RNA synthesis occur. The nucleolus is
a site for synthesis of RNA making up the ribosome

• Mitochondria- the power generators

Mitochondria (Greek: mitos-thread; chondros-granule):
Surrounded by a double membrane with a series of
folds called cristae. Functions in energy production
through metabolism. Contains its own DNA.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) – The transport network for molecules

•Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)

Covered with ribosomes (causing the "rough"
appearance) which are in the process of
synthesizing proteins for secretion or
localization in membranes.

•Ribosomes
Protein and RNA complex responsible for
protein synthesis

•Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

A site for synthesis and metabolism of lipids.
 •Golgi apparatus -process and package the
macromolecules.
A series of stacked membranes. Vesicles
carry materials from the RER to the Golgi
apparatus. Vesicles move between the stacks
while the proteins are "processed" to a
mature form.

•Lysosomes-contain digestive enzyme

A membrane bound organelle that is
responsible for degrading proteins and
membranes in the cell.

•Cytoplasm
enclosed by the plasma membrane, liquid
portion called cytosol and it houses the
membranous organelles.
5. Biomolecules
 Just like cells are building blocks of tissues,
biomolecules are building blocks of cells.
 Animal and plant cells contain approximately
10,000 kinds of biomolecules.
 Water constitutes 50-95% of cells content
by weight.
 Ions like Na+, K+ and Ca2+ may account for
another 1%.
 Almost all other kinds of biomolecules are
organic (C, H, N, O, P, S).
 Organic compounds are compounds composed
primarily of a Carbon skeleton.
Carbon
 Carbon is more abundant in living
organisms than it is in the rest of the
universe.
 What makes Carbon Special? Why is
Carbon so different from all the other
elements on the periodic table?
 The answer derives from the ability of
Carbon atoms to bond together to form
long chains and rings.
Carbon can form immensely diverse
compounds, from simple to complex.

Methane with 1 DNA with tens of Billions

Carbon atom of Carbon atoms
Biomolecules
are
compounds
of carbon
with a variety
of functional
groups
Types of biomolecules
 Small molecules:
 Lipid, phospholipid, glycolipid, sterol,
 Vitamin
 Hormone, neurotransmitter
 Carbohydrate, sugar
 Monomers:
 Amino acids
 Nucleotides
 Monosaccharides
 Polymers:
 Peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides, proteins
 Nucleic acids, i.e. DNA, RNA
 Oligosaccharides, polysaccharides (including
cellulose)
Chemical composition of a normal man
(weight 65 kg)

Constituent Percent (%) Weight (kg)

Water 61.6 40

Protein 17.0 11

Lipid 13.8 9

Carbohydrate 1.5 1

Minerals 6.1 4
Structural hierarchy in the molecular organization of cells
Similarities among all types of cells
 All cells use nucleic acids (DNA) to store
information
 Except RNA viruses, but not true cells
(incapable of autonomous replication)
 All cells use nucleic acids (RNA) to access
stored information
 All cells use proteins as catalysts (enzymes) for
chemical reactions
 A few examples of RNA based enzymes, which may
reflect primordial use of RNA
 All cells use lipids for membrane components
 Different types of lipids in different types of cells
 All cells use carbohydrates for cell walls (if
present), recognition, and energy generation
How much biochemistry do you need to
know for this course?

1. You are  Carbohydrates

expected to learn  Lipids
the structure and
functions of these
 Proteins
organic compounds:  Nucleic Acids

2. You will be expected to learn the basic

biochemical processes of major cell
functions, such as respiration, protein
synthesis and so on.
 Topics
1 Introduction , amino acid and protein (8h)
2 Nucleic acid: Structure and properties (4h)
3 Carbohydrates: Structure and properties (2h)
4 Vitamins and coenzymes (4h)
5 Enzymes (6h)
6 Metabolism of carbohydrates (8h)
7 Assessment
8 Bioenergetics (4h)
9 Metabolism of lipids (8h)
10 Metabolism of amino acids (6h)
11 Integration of metabolism and review(2h)
6. Text book and references

• Murray RK, Harper’s Illustrated

Biochemistry, 26th ed.
• Nelson DL and Cox MM. Lehninger
Principles of Biochemistry, 5th ed.
2008.
7. Some tips for study of biochemistry

• Inspiring interest, confidence

• Previewing and reviewing freshly

• Taking studying notes

• Discussing in groups

• Practice, crosstalk with other subjects

• Making use of internet

Just do as some proverbs say:
“I hear, and I forget,
I see, and I remember,
I do, and I understand.”

“Practice makes perfect”

“No pains, no gains”

THANKYOU …..