BIOCHEMISTRY

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pınar Siyah

Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy,
Bahçeşehir University

E-mail: pinar.siyah@med.bau.edu.tr
Course Calendar
Week/Place Course Topic
W1 Introduction to Biochemistry

W2 Cellular Biochemistry

W3 Water
W4 Acids, bases and buffers
W5 Amino acids
W6 Proteins
W7 1st Midterm Exam

W8 Enzymes
W9 Hemoglobin
W10 Plasma proteins
W11 Carbohydrates: structure and function
W12 Lipids: structure and function

W13 Vitamins and coenzymes

W14 2nd Midterm Exam

W15 Nucleic acid structure

W16 Function of nucleotides

Course Calendar
W17 Minerals

W18 Hormones
W19 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of proteins and amino acids
W20 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of proteins and amino acids

W21 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of carbohydrates

W22 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of carbohydrates

W23 Glycogen metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway

W24 3rd Midterm Exam
W25 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of lipids
W26 Digestion and absorption and metabolism of lipids
W27 Krebs cycle and the electron transport system
W28 Connective tissue biochemistry
W29 Biochemistry of body fluids, tooth, cartilage and bone tissue
W30 Calcium, phosphate, vitamin d metabolism and diseases
W31 Acid-base balance
W32 4th Midterm Exam
W33 Review
W34 Final Exam
Course Learning Outcomes
You will be able to;

1. Explain the structure and function of biomolecules.

2. Define the mechanisms to make complex molecules from the simple ones,
or digested back into their basic components.
3. Discuss how these mechanisms are regulated.
4. Explain how biochemical interactions contribute to the day-to-day
functioning of healthy dental tissue.
5. Discuss what interventions may be made to maintain dental health or
eliminate tooth diseases.
Grading and Evaluation:
Course Resources

(sent by the lecturer)

Introduction to Biochemistry

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pınar Siyah

Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy,
Bahçeşehir University

E-mail: pinar.siyah@med.bau.edu.tr
 Introduction to Biochemistry
• The word biochemistry is derived from “bio” which means “living”
and “chemistry” which means “the study of chemicals”.
Biochemistry deals with the study of chemicals that are essential
part of living matter.

 Biochemistry is the application of chemistry to the study of

biological processes at the cellular and molecular level.

• It is a branch of life science

(medical science)
• structure, functions and
transformation of biomolecules
• their role in diagnosis and
pathogenesis of diseases
 Historical Development of Biochemistry

• Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794)

was recognized as father of
modern chemistry.

• Friedrich Miescher discovered

nucleic acid in 1869.
 Historical Development of Biochemistry
• Carl Neuberg was a German scientist. He is
credited with title of Father of Modern
Biochemistry. The term biochemistry was
proposed by Carl Neuberg in 1903.

• Watson and Crick lead to

pioneering research in molecular
biology. They discovered double
helical model of DNA in 1953.

• Today, modern medicine is

heavily relied on biochemistry in
the diagnosis of diseases and in
designing drugs.
The significance of teaching human
biochemistry to dental students
• The basic biochemical processes occurring in the oral cavity
are the same in other tissues and organs of the body.

• Saliva contains a wide range of proteins and enzymes

(lysozyme, lactoferrin, peroxidases).
• Salivary defense proteins
(lysozyme, salivary amylase,
cystatins, mucins, peroxidases)
are responsible for innate
immunity.

• A large part of the organic

material of dentin is the collagen.

• The study of carbohydrates

and lipids is also an important
topic, since the digestion of starch
and lipids starts in the oral cavity
due to the presence of various
enzymes such as amylase and
lipase.
• The biochemistry syllabus for
dental sciences should also include
the role of weak acids and bases and
buffers to help students understand
the buffering capacity of saliva and
its implications for oral health.

• Bleeding disorders and their causes

can be found using biochemical
testing and research strategies.

• Biochemistry of acute and chronic

dental diseases should be known.
 Biomarkers in Saliva

Biomarker: a naturally
occurring molecule, gene,
or characteristic by which a
particular pathological or
physiological process,
disease, etc. can be
identified.

Biomarkers in saliva have

been identified for a wide
range of diseases and
 DNA, mRNA, proteins, metabolites conditions.
 Microbiota changes in the salivary concentration
 SALIVAOMICS
Saliva testing or Salivaomics is a diagnostic technique that
involves laboratory analysis of saliva to identify markers of
endocrine, immunologic, inflammatory, infectious, and other
types of conditions.
Many diseases, such as different types of cancer, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, immunological syndromes, and hereditary
disorders can also be analyzed using salivary diagnostics.
It is clear that biochemistry is becoming increasingly
important in the field of dentistry, and this should be
reflected in both teaching and research.
 REFERENCES
Ahsan, H. (2021). The significance of teaching human biochemistry to dental
students. International Journal of Medical Biochemistry, 4(2), 136.
Champatyray, S., Nayak, S. R., Das, S. R., Jena, I., Nayak, G., & Bhuyan, R. (2015).
Saliva: an emerging, non-invasive tool for detection of diseases. Int. J. Pharm. Sci.
Rev. Res, 35(1), 30-35.

Melguizo-Rodríguez, L., Costela-Ruiz, V. J., Manzano-Moreno, F. J., Ruiz, C., &

Illescas-Montes, R. (2020). Salivary biomarkers and their application in the diagnosis
and monitoring of the most common oral pathologies. International Journal of
Molecular Sciences, 21(14), 5173.
Nayyar, A. S., Khan, M., Deosarkar, B., Deosarkar, S. B., Chalapathi, K. V., Kartheek,
G., & Kartheeki, B. (2018). Saliva: newer avenues in the era of molecular biology,
diagnostic and prognostic application. Journal of Medical Sciences, 38(1), 7.

Shah, S. (2018). Salivaomics: The current scenario. Journal of oral and maxillofacial
pathology: JOMFP, 22(3), 375.
Strimbu, K., & Tavel, J. A. (2010). What are biomarkers?. Current Opinion in HIV and
AIDS, 5(6), 463.
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