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§ Major references
1) Biochemistry
Garrett & Grisham, 2nd or 3rd Edition (provided)
LIN Shengcai;
E-mail: linsc@xmu.edu.cn
§ Content
What Is Biochemistry?
• Biochemistry seeks to describe the structure, organization, and
functions of living matter in molecular terms.
• The significance of this finding is that they demonstrated for the first
time fermentation could occur outside the cell. This was in contrast
to the accepted view of their day, as asserted by Louis Pasteur, that
fermentation was inextricably tied to living cells. The chance
discovery opened up modern biochemistry. Metabolism became
chemistry.
• How does living matter extract energy from its surroundings in order
to remain alive?
The search for the answers is the study of the chemistry of life.
Bioenergetics
A living organism must work to stay alive and reproduce themselves,
which consumes energy. This comes to “bioenergetics”.
Bioenergetics is about energy transformation and exchange. The
central issue is the means by which energy from fuel metabolism is
coupled to energy-requiring reactions.
Activation energy
The activation energy of a chemical reaction is the energy
required to convert the reactant to transition state, which
gives rise to product(s). In other words, it is the energy
required to overcome the activation barrier.
ΔG is the free energy change between the reactants and
products.
Deoxyribonucleotides (DNA)
Chromatin
Histones vs Nonhistone
Histones are small, very basic proteins rich in lysine and arginine.
The histones are the basic building blocks of chromatin structure.
The nucleoids of prokaryotic cells also have proteins associated
with DNA, but these proteins are quite different from the histones
and do not seem to form a comparable chromatin structure.
Chromosomes
Eukaryotic chromosome
Structure of Glucose
Polysaccharides
• Polysaccharides containing a single sugar, such as glucose, are
referred to as glucans. Others, which contain only mannose, are
called mannans. Still others, containing only xylose, are called
xylans.
• Another group of polysaccharides of importance are
heteropolysaccharides, derivatives of carbohydrates.
• Example of polymers: Cellulose
Amino Acids
• Amino acids are organic acids containing an amine group. They are
the basic units of a protein. The most common amino acids are the
L-α-amino acids.
20 kinds of amino acids in our body
Two additional amino acids have been
identified
Peptide bonds
Beta-sheet
Example of polypeptide : IgG
Biological molecules (IV): Lipids
Cholesterol
Lipid-soluble vitamins
Chemical properties of biomolecules
z Chirality
z Bondings
z Forces
Chirality
Biological forces for biomolecular interactions
• In addition to covalent bonds, which hold atoms together to
form molecules, there are weak forces, intramolecular or
intermolecular.
1. hydrogen bonds
2. van der waals forces
3. ionic interactions
4. hydrophobic interactions
Dipole-dipole interaction
van der Waals forces are the result of induced electrical interactions
between closely approaching atoms. The positively charged nuclei are
attracted to negatively charged electrons of nearby atoms.