BIOCHEMIST

RY
PART I
Chapter 1: Background of Biochemistry
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
Chemistry literacy –
• is a very important part
of any educational
career. Works with
humanities to prepare
students to earn a
living, be productive
persons, and live an
enriched life by
continuous learning.
Aside from becoming
professionals, they also
become useful members
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE: Chemistry
• A condition and
partner of the art of
living. It serves
society not only by
enlightening the
communities on the
world realities that we
live in but also by
guiding them in the
intelligent use of
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE: Chemistry
• as a science and the
technologies that
derive from it have
changed the nature of
human society. When
scientific knowledge
is lacking or ignored,
pseudo-science and
superstitions exist.
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
In critical For this reason,
decisions about the general
the health and public and the
security of the students need
nation, the final sufficient
appeal is always
understanding to
to chemistry,
most specifically enable them to
Biochemistry. discern truth
from error and
right from
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
Current issues like
medicines for covid19
virus, abortion, cloning,
population and disease
control, and ecological
balance with their
political and ethical
considerations, require a
certain level of chemistry
literacy.
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
The essence of biological
processes which is the basis
of the uniformity of living
systems lies in the
chemistry that takes place
between molecules.
Biochemistry is the
chemistry that takes place
“within living systems”.
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
To truly
understand
Biochemistry,
there is a need to
learn the basic
concepts of acids,
bases, salts, pH,
and buffers which
are present in
living systems.
 INTRODUCTION TO
THE COURSE:
Aside from that, the students
had prior knowledge of
organic compounds to
understand the physical and
chemical properties,
structure, and function of
biomolecules such as
carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, enzymes, and
nucleic acids.
 Chapter 1:
Background of
Biochemistry
What are we made of?

How do we work?
 Biochemistry

Scientific discipline that seeks to explain life at the molecular

level.

Can be approached by studying individual molecules isolated

from cells.

It is also a practical science.

Major themes of
biochemistry:

1. Living organisms are made of macromolecules.

2. Organisms acquire, transform, store, and use

energy.

3. Biological information is transmitted from

generation to generation.
Biological Molecules
C, N, O and H, followed by Ca, P, K, S, Cl, Na, and
Mg.

All the molecules in a living organism contain

carbon.

Biological molecules are constructed from H, N, O,

P and S.
Four Types of Biological Amino Carboxyl
group group
Molecules
1. Amino Acids
An amino group (-NH2) and a
carboxylic group (-COOH).
Side
group
(a)

Side
groups

Leucine Serine
(hydrophobic) (hydrophobic)
 Four Types of Biological
Molecules
2. Carbohydrates
Organic molecules that
contain carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen CnH2n0n.

Monosaccharides = simple sugars.

Structural isomers:
Glucose, fructose,
galactose.

Glucose Fructose
Four Types of Biological Nitrogenous base
(A,G,C, or T)
Molecules
3. Nucleotides
5-carbon sugar
(deoxyribose or ribose). Phosphate
Thymine (T)

The phosphate group is group

attached to one end of the

sugar. Sugar
Nitrogenous base attached (deoxyribose)

to another end of sugar. Phosphate

Base
Sugar
Four Types of Biological
Molecules
4. Lipids
Cannot be described by a
single structural formula.

Insoluble in water because

of nonpolar molecules
Three Major Kinds of Biological
Polymers
Polymers are combinations of many smaller, similar
building blocks called monomers (mono = single) bonded
together.

The monomers in a polymer are usually combined by a

dehydration synthesis reaction.
Three Major Kinds of Biological
Polymers
1. Proteins

Polymers of amino acids are called polypeptides or

proteins.
The amino acid residues are linked to each other
by amide bonds called peptide bonds.
Three Major Kinds of Biological
Polymers
2. Nucleic acids

Polymers of nucleotides are termed

polynucleotides or nucleic acids,
better known as DNA and RNA.
each nucleic acid is made from just four
different nucleotides
Polymerization involves the phosphate and
sugar groups of the nucleotides, which
become linked by phosphodiester bonds.
Three Major Kinds of Biological
Polymers
3. Polysaccharides

usually contain only one or a few different types

of monosaccharide residues,

perform essential cell functions by serving

as fuel-storage molecules and by providing
structural support.
The glucose residues are linked by glycosidic bonds
 BIOCHEMISTRY
- also discusses the different concepts of acids,
bases, and salts together with the ionization of
the compounds. These compounds are involved
in the biochemical system reactions. The pH,
pOH, and buffers are important in the function of
different substances present in the biochemical
system. Life will not be possible without these
conditions together with the biomolecules.