BIOCHEMISRY

Gobena D
 Teaching Methods:

 Lecture
 Brainstorming

 Group discussion
 Group or individual assignments with presentation

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 Assessments
Progressive assessment …………………………..50 %

Assignments, Mid exam and Quiz

Attendance and class activities/participation
Final examination………………………………….50%

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 Assessments
 Type of Examination:
Multiple choice questions, Short answers,

Essays (minimum)

Matching, Completion and

True or False (Optional)

Assignments evaluation through:

 Evolution of documents and presentation skill

 Evolution active group members participation during presentation

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 Grading: Fixed scale
 General Objective:
 After completing this course, the student will be able to:

o Define biochemistry

o Discuss importance of biochemistry for health professional

with respect to:

Treatment, prognosis and diagnosis and screening

 Correlate the biochemical processes with health & disease

 Explain the biochemical aspects of human life

 Outline the transmission & expression of genetic information

 Correlate the biochemical processes with health & disease

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 Introduction to Biochemistry

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 What is Biochemistry?

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 What is biochemistry?
Biochemistry can be defined as the science of the chemical basis
of life (Greek bios “life”).
Biochemistry is the language of biology

It is the science that study about chemical constituents of living

cells and the reactions and processes they undergo.
According to this definition, Biochemistry encompasses large
areas of cell biology, molecular biology and genetics.
Biochemistry describe & explain all biochemical processes of
living cells at molecular level.
In general Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of life
processes 8
 Role of Biochemistry

To evaluate nutritive value of different types nutrient.

Development and exploitation of better genotypes

Removal and inactivation of toxic factors present in food

Food preservation and processing technology

Biochemistry of disease pathogenesis in human being.

Vaccine development

 Identification receptor and mechanism of drug action

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 Role of biochemistry Cont…
Biochemistry helps to understand the biochemical changes and
related physiological alteration in the body.
Pathophysiology of any disease is studied through biochemical
changes.
Figure 1: Biomolecule Basis of Different Diseases

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Classification of Biochemistry

Descriptive biochemistry: deals with qualitative and quantitative

nature of Biomolecules in the living cells, such as:
Water, Micro molecules which include Vitamins & Minerals
Macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids & nucleic acids)

Dynamic biochemistry: deals with the reactions,

mechanisms of reactions & regulation in the cells.

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 Brief introduction to Metabolism and Enzymes
Metabolism: the sum total of chemical reactions in the living
cell/organism

It is also define as the sum of all chemical changes of a compound

inside the body

Can be of three types:

1. Catabolism: break down or degradation reactions.

Examples: digestion, oxidation of glucose…

2. Anabolism: Synthetic reactions

Examples: Synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids (DNA & RNA)

3. Amphibolic pathways (Central Metabolism)

 It is amphipathic or has dual purpose; e.g. Krebs cycle
Figure 2: Catabolic and Anabolic Pathway

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Figure 3: General Metabolic Routes for Dietary in the Body

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 Atoms
 Molecules (biomolecules)
 Organelles
 Cells
 Tissues
 Organs
 Organ Systems
 Organisms
 Populations
 Communities
 Ecosystems
 Biosphere
carbon DNA organelle cell
atom molecule tissue

biosphere

ecosystem

organ

organ
system

community organism
population
 Levels of structural organization in the human body.
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 Cellular Components

 Each cell has four common components:

1.Plasma membrane
2.Nucleus (Region containing DNA),
3.Cytoplasm
4.Biochemical molecules & biochemical pathways

Non-membrane-limited organelles: ribosomes, cytoskeleton,

centriole
Membrane-limited organelles: Nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum

(ER), Golgi apparatus (GA), lysosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes

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 Elemental Composition of the Living System

More than 99% of the elements in animals’ bodies are, carbon,

hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Most of the H and O occur as H2O, which alone make 60-70% of

cell mass.

These elements are the major constituents of biomolecules, on which

most living organisms depend.

Proteins (10-20%), Nucleic acids (7-10%) , Polysaccharides (2-5%) and

lipids (3%) are account of weight of the cell.

The seven essential mineral elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, S and P)

account only about 0.5% of the body mass.

 Four Major Biomolecules:
Categories:

Carbohydrates (2-5%) Lipids (3%)

Proteins(10- 20%) Nucleic Acids (7%)

Table: Caloric Content of Four Major Biomolecules
 The Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE)
 DEE is the amount of fuel individual need per day.
DEE = REE + Certain % of REE
 Resting energy expenditure (REE): When a person is awakened
and his or her heat production or oxygen consumption is measured,
he or she is no longer sleeping or totally at mental rest
 A rough estimate of the REE is obtained by assuming:
 24 kcal/day/kg body weights and multiplying by the body weight.

NOTES:
 30% of REE for a very sedentary person
 70 of REE for person engages in about 2 hours exercise per day
 100% of REE for a person who does several hours of heavy
exercise per day.
 The Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE)

 DEE is affected by different factors;

Gender (males higher than females)
Body temperature (increased with fever)

Environmental temperature (increased in cold)

Thyroid status (increased in hyperthyroidism)
Pregnancy and lactation (increased)

Age (decreases with age)

 Classification of Living Cells

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 CELL

Cells are the functional and structural unit of all life.

Different biochemical reactions takes place in the cell.
On the basis of differences in cell structure, all life forms are
divided into three major classes.

I. Prokaryotes
II. Eukaryote
III. Archaea

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 Group Discussion

Discuss the difference and similarity

of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells

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 1. Prokaryotes
Bacteria and blue green algae are example of prokaryotes

They are the simplest living cells and unicellular (1–10µm)

Prokaryotes have cell wall outside the plasma membrane

The cell interior (cytoplasm or cytosol) usually contains a

single, circular chromosome.

Prokaryotes contain plasmids [(DNA) molecules with limited

genetic information and RNA, ribosomes (sites of protein
synthesis)

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 Prokaryotes cont…
 Pili found on the surface of a prokaryote , which allow it to
attach to other cells surfaces and also involved in conjugation
( a “mating” process).
Flagella allows the cell to swim by rotational motion.
Figure 1. Structure of prokaryote

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 2. Eukaryote
Eukaryotes are defined by their possession of membrane-
enclosed organelles.
Have specialized metabolic functions
They Larger than prokaryotes: 10–100µm in diameter.
Many eukaryotes are multicellular (e.g. Plant, animals & fungi)
Figure 3. Eukaryote structure

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 Archaea
 Exhibit properties of both prokaryote and eukaryote cells.

In terms of energy production and metabolism Archaea are

similar with prokaryote cells

However in terms of genes expression they are similar with

eukaryotes cells; i.e.
 Replication, transcription and translation
Beyond this Archaea also possess some biochemical peculiarities.
E.g. They tend to inhabit extreme environments:

Like Thermophiles and Halophiles

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Summary: Comparison Between Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic Cells
 Quiz (5%)
 Both is a midwifery student with 70 Kg body
weight. His dietary analysis showed: 190 g of
carbohydrate, 90 g of protein and 100g of fat per
day. Based on the above scenario;
Calculate the energy he obtained from those
dietary complex's in kilocalories.
Calculate his ideal daily energy expenditure
(DEE) and compare with his actual one
Thank You!