Duhok polytechnic University

Bardarash Technical Institute

Biochemistry
Lec.:1

Lecturer :
Fatima Mohammed Ahmed
M.Sc. Clinical Biochemistry
Department of Nursing
1st year Students
 What is Biochemistry?

➢The word ‘BIOCHEMISTRY’- means -

Chemistry of Living beings or Chemical
Basis of Life. Accordingly,

Biochemistry is the chemistry of life

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 biomolecules

❑ Most biomolecules are organic compounds

❑ organic compounds are those that have a backbone

of CARBON

❑ H,O ,N ,P ,S are other most common elements in

living system

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 Atoms
Molecules

Macromolecules
Organization organelles

of cells
Tissues
Life
Organs

Organ systems

organisms

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 Important Biomolecules
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Minerals
 Enzymes
 Hormones
 Nucleic acids and Molecular Genetics
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 Carbohydrates
 Organic compounds composed of Carbon, Hydrogen

and oxygen Many Carbohydrates also contain

nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur .

 all sugars have the ending ose

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 Functions
▪ the primary function of carbohydrates is to provide energy
for the body, especially the brain and the nervous system.

▪ An enzyme called amylase helps break down

carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar), which is used for
energy by the body.

▪ In the human body, amylase is predominantly produced by

the salivary glands and the pancreas.
 Functions
• Degradation products of carbohydrates could be
used for synthesis of another substance such as fatty
acids, cholesterol, and amino acids.

• Energy storage (glycogen, starch)

• Structural components (cellulose)

• It participates in the structure of the cell membrane

and in the structure of nucleic acid, RNA & DNA.

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 classification of carbohydrates
• carbohydrates are classified into four
different groups:
• Monosaccharides _ one sugar unit
• Disaccharides _ two sugar unit
• Oligosaccharides _ 3-10 sugar unit
• Polysaccharides _ more than 10 sugar unit

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 Important mono saccharides

• Glucose
• Glucose is also called dextrose

• Most important sugar in our diet.

• Glucose serves as essential energy source.

• Glucose is commonly known as blood sugar.
 Important mono saccharides
• Ribose and deoxyribose
• Ribose is an important sugar used in genetic material.
• This sugar is not used as an energy source but is a part of the backbone of RNA
and coenzyme like ATP.
• When the C-2 OH is removed, the sugar becomes deoxyribose which is used in
the backbone of DNA.
 Important mono saccharides
• Galactose
• Found in the disaccharide lactose
• Found in the cellular membranes of brain and nervous
system
 Important Disaccharides
2. Lactose

• Also called Milk sugar

•Is found in milk and milk products.
•makes up about 5% of human milk and cow’s milk.
 Oligosaccharides
▪ Composed of three to ten monosaccharide.

▪ They are often bonded to proteins and lipids on cell surfaces,

where they serve as recognition signals.

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 Polysaccharides
▪ Larger Than Ten Monosaccharide Units.

▪ Can Reach Many Thousands Of Units.

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 Some common Polysaccharides in living beings

❑ Starch
▪ Starch is used for energy storage in plants and is the form in which
glucose is stored for later use.
▪ It is found in all rice, corn, grains, potatoes, peas, wheat, etc.
▪ On complete hydrolysis, starch
gives only D-glucose.
❑ Glycogen
▪ The storage form of glucose in the body
▪ Stored in the liver and muscles
▪ Not found in plants

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 ❑ Cellulose
▪ is a polymer consisting of long, unbranched chains of D-glucose. It may
contain from 300 to 3000 glucose units in one molecule.
▪ Cellulose is very strong and resistant to metabolic breakdown.
▪ It is not easy to digest and requires the help of a bacteria.
▪ In reference to our own diets, we call it “fiber.”

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 Why cellulose is indigestible by humans?
▪ Humans lack the enzymes needed to digest cellulose, but it
provides (dietary fiber) to stimulate intestinal contraction
and help pass food through the digestive system preventing
constipation.

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 ❑ Heparin

▪ This acidic polysaccharide is synthesized and stored in

mast cells of various tissues particularly the liver, lungs,
and gut.
▪ Heparin has many biological functions, particularly as
anticoagulant.
▪ Because of this anticoagulant activity, it is widely used in
medicine.

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❑ Hyaluronic Acid
▪ Hyaluronic acid is the simplest acidic polysaccharide present in connective
tissue. It is most abundant in embryonic tissues and in specialized connective
tissues such as synovial fluid, (the lubricant of joints in the body), and the
vitreous humor of the eye, where it provides a clear, elastic gel that maintains
the retina in its proper position.
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