Zatilfarihiah Rasdi
Biochemistry I
BCM201
Chapter 1:
An Introduction to Biochemistry
OBJECTIVES
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Upon completion of this course, students should be
able to:
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Define the basic constituents of macromolecules
(carbohydrates, a. acids, lipids, nucleic acids) and
enzymes
Describe the classification, structure and functions of
macromolecules and enzymes
Explain and identify the basic energy generated processes
Demonstrate the ability to conduct basic biochemical
laboratory test
Verbally and in writing, discuss and report to peers the
scientific investigations and data interpretation
CREDIT HOURS:
3
Assessment
•Tests
- 30%
•Lab reports/assign.- 10%
•Final exam.
- 50%
Lecture (DFT): 2hrs/week
 Friday : 10.10 am – 12.00 pm
 Venue: BK5
Practical: 3hrs/week
 Friday: 3.10 – 6.00 pm
 Venue: M. Biokimia
LESSON PLAN
Week
Contents
1
1.0 Introduction to biochemistry
2.0 Carbohydrates
2
2.0 Carbohydrates
3
3.0 Lipid
4
4.0 Amino acid
5
4.0 Amino acid
5.0 Protein
6
5.0 Protein
7
5.0 Protein
8
6.0 Enzymes
9
6.0 Enzymes
10
Mid term break (Eid break)
11
7.0 Nucleic acid
12
7.0 Nucleic acid
13
8.0 Overview of metabolism
14
8.0 Overview of metabolism
15
Study week
16
Final examination
LAB CLASS
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Reference
Colorimetric tests for  Campbell, M.K., and Farrell, S.O.
carbohydrates
(2009) Biochemistry, 6th ed.
Chromatography
Thompson Brooks/Cole
Saponification value
 Boyer, R. (2005)
Acid value
Concepts in Biochemistry, 3rd ed.
Qualitative tests for
Wiley
amino acid
Tests for proteins
Additional text
The pH meter
 Voet, D.J, Voet, G.V, and Pratt, C.W
Paper chromatography
(2008)
Principle of Biochemistry, 3rd ed.
Wiley
INTRODUCTION
TO
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOCHEMISTRY?
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The study of life at the molecular level
It emerged as a distinct discipline around the
beginning of the 20th century when scientists
combined chemistry, biology and physiology to
investigate the chemistry of living system
Goal
To describe life’s processes using the language
of molecules – applying the principles and
methods of chemistry to determine molecular
structure from which it is often possible to
explain biological function
1.
2.
3.
Structural and functional
biochemistry
focuses on discovering
chemical structures & 3-D
arangements of biomolecules
Informational biochemistry
defines language(s) for
storing biological data &
trnasmitting it in cells and
organisms
Bioenergetics
the flow of energy in living
organisms and how it
transferred from one process
to another – study of
metabolism
WHY BIOCHEMISTRY?
lead us to fundamental understanding of
life, how organisms store & transfer
information, how food digested, how brain
cell store information….
•
Understand the important issues in
medicine, health & nutrition – can search
cures for HIV, diabetes, recombinant DNA
help in find new mutation and new plant
•
Advance biotechnology industries
- The application of biological materials to
technical useful operation e.g. enzymes in
pharmaceutical industry to synthesise
complex drugs
•
1. BIOMOLECULES
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Field of biochemistry draws many disciplines –
allows us to answer questions related to molecular
nature of life
Organic chemistry: the study of the compounds of
carbon
A biomolecule is a molecule that naturally occurs in
living organisms.
- biomolecules consists primarily of carbon and
hydrogen, along with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus
and sulfur.
- important classes of biomolecules: proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids.
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Living cells include very large molecules, such as
proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and lipids.
- biomolecules are polymers (Greek: poly + meros, many + parts)
- are derived from monomers (Greek: mono + meros, single + part)
a.acids (proteins), nucleotides (nucleic acids), monosaccharides
(polysaccharides), glycerol and fatty acids (lipids)
Fig. 1-5:
Two natural
organometallic
compounds
a) heme, containing a
porphyrin ring and iron;
b) chlorophyll,
containing a porphyrin
ring and magnesium
BIOMOLECULES

Enzymes: a class of proteins that are
biocatalysts
- the catalytic effectiveness of an enzyme
depends on its amino acid sequence
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Genetic code: the relationship between
the nucleotide sequence in nucleic acids
and the amino acid sequence in proteins
– BCM 301
Biomolecules
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Functional
group: an
atom/group
of atoms
that shows
characteristi
c, physical
and
chemical
properties
Homopolymers
Heteropolymers
Fig. 1-6:Types of natural polymers
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Viruses: consist of a single DNA or
RNA molecule wrapped in a protein
package
Not considered a life-form
Deemed parasites – unable to carry
out metabolism or reproduction
without the assistance of host cell
Are the caused of many plants and
animals maladies and has resulted
in much human suffering
However, an enormous
study of biochemistry
has been learned from
studies of their actions
2. BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
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Biochemists and molecular
biologists have been interested
in learning how biological
information is transferred from
one generation to another.
DNA, RNA, proteins and even
some carbohydrates are
information-rich molecules that
carry instructions for cellular
processes.
Biochemists work with the
molecules, cell components and
cells in a wide range of sizes.
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The Watson and Crick double helix
model for DNA showing the stacking of
nucleotide bases on the same strand
and the hydrogen bonds between
complimentary nucleotide bases on
opposite strands.
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Biochemistry is an experimental science.
Before doing experiment, the desired
object of study must be separated from its
natural surroundings – one tool useful for
isolating cells, organelles and
biomolecules is centrifuge.
Scientists take advantage of the fact that
biochemical entities have different
physical characteristics; weight, sizes,
densities, and shapes.
• New biochemical
research is showing
that obesity not just
a consequence of
overeating but is
often linked to
malfunctions in the
hormone-controlled
systems that
regulated energy
consumption and
body weight.
ASSIGNMENT 1 (in group of 4/5)
1. Biological information flow from DNA RNA
Protein. Write about the whole process from
replication to translation to protein in 100-200 words.
2. Discuss the uses of biochemistry in environmental
science, gene engineering & cloning and clinical
chemistry.