1. Introduction to Biochemistry Department of Biochemistry
Lecture 1
Introduction to Biochemistry
Asma Ali Shaheen
Department of Biochemistry

2. Introduction What is the Biochemistry? History and development
How to study Biochemistry?

3. 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.

4. Biochemistry
Aim: to describe and explain, in molecular terms, all chemical processes of living cells
Structure-function
Metabolism and Regulation
How life began？

5. 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

6. 2. History and development of Biochemistry
1903, Neuberg (German): “Biochemistry”
“Chemistry of Life”

7. 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

8. 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

9. HGP from 1990, completed in 2003

10. 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

11. 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.

12. Macromolecule
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
Monomer
Monosaccharide
Not always polymers; Hydrocarbon chains
Amino acids
Nucleotides

13. 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.

14. 14

15. Building block Macromolecule Simple sugar Amino acid Nucleotide
Anabolic
Building block
Simple sugar
Amino acid
Nucleotide
Fatty acid
Macromolecule
Polysaccharide
Protein (peptide)
RNA or DNA
Lipid
Catabolic

16. Principles of Biochemistry
Cells (basic structural units of living organisms) are highly organized and constant source of energy is required to maintain the ordered state.
All organisms use the same type of molecules: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids & nucleic acids.
Living processes contain thousands of chemical pathways. Precise regulation and integration of these pathways are required to maintain life.
Instructions for growth, reproduction and developments for each organism is encoded in their DNA.

17. 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.)

18. •Cell membrane & cell wall
•Nucleoid region contains the DNA
Contain ribosomes (no membrane)
• Cell Membrane
• Nucleus
Cytoplasm with organelles

20. 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 : Surrounded by a double membrane with a series of folds called cristae. Functions in energy production through metabolism. Contains its own DNA.

21. Ribosomes Protein and RNA complex responsible for protein synthesis
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.
Ribosomes Protein and RNA complex responsible for protein synthesis
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) A site for synthesis and metabolism of lipids.

22. Golgi apparatus A series of stacked membranes
Golgi apparatus A series of stacked membranes. Vesicles carry materials from the RER to the Golgi apparatus. 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.

23. 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.

24. Carbon can form immensely diverse compounds, from simple to complex.
DNA with tens of Billions of Carbon atoms
Methane with 1 Carbon atom

25. Biomolecules are compounds of carbon with a variety of functional groups
Some common functional groups of biomolecules. In this figure and throughout the book, we use R to represent “any substituent.” It may be as simple as a hydrogen atom, but typically it is a carbon-containing group. When two or more substituents are shown in a molecule, we designate them R1, R2, and so forth.

26. Types of biomolecules Small molecules: Monomers: Polymers:
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)

27. 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

28. Structural hierarchy in the molecular organization of cells
Structural hierarchy in the molecular organization of cells. The nucleus of this plant cell is an organelle containing several types of supramolecular complexes, including chromatin. Chromatin consists of two types of macromolecules, DNA and many different proteins, each made up of simple subunits.

29. Similarities among all types of cells
All cells use nucleic acids (DNA) to store information
Except RNA viruses, but not true cells
All cells use nucleic acids (RNA) to access stored information
All cells use proteins as catalysts (enzymes) for chemical reactions
Different types of lipids in different types of cells
All cells use carbohydrates for cell walls (if present), and energy generation 29

30. How much biochemistry do you need to know for this course?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
1. You are expected to learn the structure and functions of these organic compounds:
2. You will be expected to learn the basic biochemical processes of major cell functions, such as respiration, protein synthesis and so on.

31. Topics 1 Introduction to Biochemistry 2
Carbohydrates: Structure and properties 3
Metabolism of carbohydrates 4
Nucleic acid: Structure and properties 5
Introduction , amino acid and protein 6
lipids 7
Metabolism of lipids 8
Vitamins and coenzymes 9
Enzymes and Hermones 10
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