Biochemistry
Biochemistry has become the foundation for understanding all
biological
processes.
It has provided explanations for the causes of many diseases in
humans,
animals and plants
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What is Biochemistry ?
• Biochemistry deals with the chemical changes
that are brought about by living organisms
A. Extra cellular reactions -----hydrolytic reactions
B. intra cellular reactions------ oxidative reactions
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Cell
• The cell is the basic structural, functional and
biological unit of all known living organisms. It is
the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living
thing (except virus, which consists only of
DNA/RNA covered by protein and lipids), and is
often called the building block of life.
• It consists of a protoplasm enclosed within a
membrane, which contains many biomolecules
such as proteins and nucleic acids. [1] Organisms
can be classified as unicellular (consisting of a
single cell; including most bacteria) or
multicellular (including plants and animals). 3
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Classification of biochemical reactions
on the basis of temperature
• Biochemical reactions occurs at temperatures with a
normal range from 0 to 60 oC
• Psychrophilic ----------- 0 to 10
• Mesophilic ------------------ 10 to 40
• Thermophilic ----------------above 40
• Hyperthermophilic ---- between 65 to 110 .
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Enzymes
• Enzymes have been defined as
temperature-sensitive, organic catalysts
produced by living cells and capable of
action outside or inside the cell.
• Extracellular
• Intracellular enzymes
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Location in cell
• The enzymes are associated with the
protoplasm of the cell, they are also
located in the cell wall and cell membrane.
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Types on the basis of their
production
• Constitutive (they are produced
continuously)
• Inducible (being produced on demand)
• Inducible enzymes are likely to be involved
when an organism is exposed to an
organic it has not seen before.
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Nature
• Enzymes are proteinaceous in character,
some are simple proteins and others are
complex conjugative type.
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Life uses enzymes to speed up
otherwise slow reactions
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How does an enzyme do it,
thermodynamically?
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Classification based on the
nature of reaction they controled
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Chemical reaction types encountered in
biochemical processes
1. Nucleophilic Substitution
• One atom of group substituted for another
2. Elimination Reactions
• Double bond is formed when atoms in a molecule is
removed
3. Addition Reactions:
• Two molecules combine to form a single product.
• A. Hydration Reactions
• Water added to alkene > alcohol (common addition
pathway)
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4. Isomerization Reactions.
• Involve intramolecular shift of atoms or groups
5. Oxidation-Reduction (redox) Reactions
• Occur when there is a transfer of e- from a donor
to an electron acceptor
6. Hydrolysis reactions
• Cleavage of double bond by water.
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Summary of Key Concepts
Biochemical Reactions
• Metabolism: total sum of the chemical reaction
happening in a living organism (highly coordinated and
purposeful activity)
a. Anabolism- energy requiring biosynthetic pathways
b. Catabolism- degradation of fuel molecules and the
production of energy for cellular function
• All reactions are catalyzed by enzymes
• The primary functions of metabolism are:
a. acquisition & utilization of energy
b. Synthesis of molecules needed for cell structure and
functioning (i.e. proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, & CHO
c. Removal of waste products
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Even though thousands of pathways sound
very large and complex in a tiny cell:
• The types of pathways are small
• Mechanisms of biochemical pathways are simple
• Reactions of central importance (for energy
production & synthesis and degradation of major
cell components) are relatively few in number
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Energy for Cells
• Living cells are inherently unstable.
• Constant flow of energy prevents them from
becoming disorganized.
• Cells obtains energy mainly by the oxidation of
bio-molecules (e- transferred from 1 molecule to
another and in doing so they lose energy)
• This energy captured by cells & used to maintain
highly organized cellular structure and functions
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