Introduction to Biochemistry

BY; Fitalew T

(Msc. Medical Biochemistry)

 Introduction to biochemistry
WHAT IS BIOCHEMISTRY?

What do you expect from biochemistry?

• Biochemistry can be defined as the science concerned
with the chemical basis of life.
• A science concerned with the chemical constituents of
living cells and with the reaction and processes they
undergo.
• By this definition, biochemistry encompasses large areas
of cell biology, molecular biology, and molecular
genetics.
• Biochemistry is concerned with the entire spectrum of life
forms but main concern is mammals and specially
human

• Because life depends on biochemical reactions,

biochemistry has become the basic language of all
biologic sciences
• A knowledge of biochemistry is essential
to understand
-genetics
-Physiology
-Immunology
-Pharmacology
-Toxicology
-Pathology
-Nutrition
A knowledge of biochemistry is essential for all life sciences.

1.The biochemistry of nucleic acids lies at the heart of genetics and for forensic

science

2.Pharmacy, most drugs are metabolized by enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

3.Poisons act on biochemical reactions or processes; this is the subject matter of

toxicology.

4.Biochemical approaches are being used increasingly to study basic aspects of

pathology, such as inflammation, cell injury, and cancer

• In addition it helps in;
1. understanding and maintenance of health.
2. understanding and effective treatment of diseases.
The major objective of biochemistry are
 The complete understanding at the molecular level, of all of the
chemical processes associated with living cells.
Isolation of bio molecules,
determine their structure
analyze their function
Regulation
Integration
Maintenance
Abnormalities – disease
• Three principal areas of Biochemistry
 Structural Chemistry: Structure-function
relationship for all biomolecules
 Metabolism: Totality of chemical reactions that
occur in living organism, with respective clinical
correlation
 Molecular biology: storage, transmission, and
expression of Genetic information: Gene regulation
and related genetic disease.
• Biomolecules (Macromolecules)of Cells
Biochemistry and Medicine are intimately related.

Biochemistry studies many aspects of health &disease

Health depends on a harmonious balance of

biochemical reactions occurring in the body

Disease reflects abnormalities in Biomolecules,

structure, imbalance, Biochemical reactions, or

Biochemical processes.
 A Reciprocal Relationship Between Biochemistry & Medicine
 The two major concerns for workers in the health
sciences— and particularly physicians—are ;
 the understanding and maintenance of health.
 the understanding and effective treatment of diseases.
 Biochemistry impacts enormously on both of these
fundamental concerns of medicine
 In fact, the interrelationship of biochemistry and
medicine is a wide, two-way street.
 Health depends on a harmonious balance of biochemical
reactions, and disease reflects abnormalities in
biomolecules, biochemical reactions, or biochemical
processes.
Two-way street connecting biochemistry and medicine.

Protein Vitamins: C,D

Nucleic Acid
Aminoacids
lipid CHO/
Nucleotides Insulin

Gout, Orotic acid Arteriosclerosis

urea ,Lesch-Nyhan Pku,albinism,
Cystinuria DM,Anemia,..

Sickle cell anemia Scurvy & Rickets

Genetic
disease
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 Most & Perhaps All Disease Has
Biochemical Basis
1. Physical agents:
2. Chemical agents,
3. Biologic agents:
4. Oxygen lack:
5. Genetic disorders: Congenital, molecular.
6. Immunologic reactions:
7. Nutritional imbalances:
8. Endocrine imbalances:.
 Some uses of biochemical
investigations and laboratory tests in
relation to diseases
1. To suggest rational treatment
2. To assist in the diagnosis
3. To act as screening tests
4. To assist in monitoring the progress
5. To assist in assessing the response of
disease to therapy
 1.Carbohydrates
The most abundant organic molecule found in nature
Initially synthesized in plants from a complex series of reactions

involving photosynthesis
 The major carbohydrates in the diet are:

Starch, Glycogen
Sucrose, Lactose,
Fructose, & Glucose.
Some of the functions are :

Store energy in the form of Starch or glycogen.

Simple source of cellular energy

Supply carbon for synthesis of other compounds.

Form structural components in cells and tissues.

Intercellular communications
 2.Proteins
•In addition to C,H,O and 16% nitrogen by weight.
•Proteins are composed of amino acids linked by
peptide bonds
•There are 20 types of standard Amino Acids.

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 Some of the biological functions are :
Support Structural proteins (e.g., keratin, collagen)
Enzymes Speed up chemical reactions
Transport Cell membranes channels, transporters in
blood
(e.g., Hemoglobin)
Defense Antibodies of the immune system
Storage Ferritin /Myoglobin
Hormones Cell signaling (e.g., insulin)
Motion Contractile proteins (e.g. actin, myosin)
Energy Glucogenic aminoacids
pH
04/07/24 Buffering role
medical Hb
biochemistry 19
• OVERVIEW OF AMINOACID METABOLISM

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 3. Lipids- Fatty acids
• lipids are a heterogeneous group of compounds, including
fats, oils, steroids, waxes, and related compounds.
 They have the common property of being
(1) Relatively insoluble in water and
(2) soluble in Non-polar solvents such as ether

Fatty acids are monocarboxylic acid

Fatty acids are components of several lipid molecules.

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Biological Functions
Storage of energy in the form of fat
Membrane structures
Insulation (Thermal blanket)
Synthesis of hormones
 Clinical Correlation
Obesity
Atherosclerosis
Diabetes Mellitus

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 Fats contain much less oxygen than carbohydrates or
proteins. =Therefore, fats are more reduced and yield more
energy

 approximately 9 kcal/g, more than Twice the energy yield of

carbohydrate or protein(4 kcal/g)

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• AN OVERVIEW OF LIPID METABOLISM

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 4: Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides: building blocks of nucleic acids.
– Each nucleotide contains
Phosphate molecule,
Nitrogenous base, and
5-carbon sugar

Phosphate
Nitrogenous
Base
Pentose
Sugar
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Nucleotides

A T
Adenine Thymine

G
C
Cytosine Guanine

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Several types of nucleic acids, including:

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid

– Genetic material, double stranded helix

RNA: Ribonucleic acid

– Genetic material, single stranded

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Some Biological Importance Are:

1. ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, NAD, FAD act as Coenzymes.

2. dNTPs are required for DNA replication and repair.

3. ATP acts as Currency of free energy for all

5. c AMP, c GMP act as intracellular messenger’s .

6. GTP is used in Protein synthesis.

7. SAM involves in Transmethylation reactions.

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• INTRODUCTION TO
METABOLISM
 Metabolism is the sum total of all chemical transformations
taking place in a cell or organism, occurs through a series of
enzyme-catalyzed reactions that constitute metabolic pathways.
 Each of the consecutive steps in a metabolic pathway brings about
a specific, small chemical change, usually the removal, transfer, or
addition of a particular atom or functional group.
 The precursor is converted into a product through a series of
metabolic intermediates called metabolites.
 The term intermediary metabolism is often applied to the
combined activities of all the metabolic pathways that interconvert
precursors, metabolites, and products of low molecular weight.
• Inter-conversion of chemical cpds in the body
• Pathways taken by individual molecules
• Their interrelationship
• thousands of chemical rxn occur
simultaneously
• But each reaction are regulated-no over or
under production of molecules
• chemical reactions of metabolism are
organized into metabolic pathways
• Enzymes are crucial to metabolism
Function

 To obtain chemical energy by capturing solar energy or

degrading energy-rich nutrients from the environment

 To convert nutrient molecules into the cell’s own

characteristic molecules, including precursors of
macromolecules

 To polymerize monomeric precursors into macromolecules:

proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides; and

 To synthesize and degrade biomolecules required for

specialized cellular functions, such as membrane lipids,
intracellular messengers, and pigments

 Elimination of metabolic waste

 Three categories:
1. Anabolic pathways are those involved in the synthesis
of compounds. Protein synthesis, synthesis of fuel
reserves of triacylglycerol and glycogen. Anabolic
pathways are endergonic, divergent.

2. Catabolic pathways are involved in the breakdown of

larger molecules, commonly involving oxidative
reactions; they are exergonic, producing reducing
equivalents and, mainly via the respiratory chain, ATP.
Catabolic pathways are convergent reactions.

3. Amphibolic pathways occur at the “crossroads” of

metabolism, acting as links between the anabolic and
catabolic pathways, eg, the citric acid cycle.
• Three types of nonlinear metabolic pathways:
(a) Converging(catabolic) (b) diverging(anabolic), (c)
cyclic
 In order to meet our bodies requirements, we
metabolize our dietary components through four
basic types of Metabolic process :
Fuel oxidative pathways,
Fuel storage and mobilization
pathways,
Biosynthetic pathways, and
Detoxification or waste disposal
pathways.
Energy relationships between catabolic and
anabolic pathways

Catabolic pathways deliver chemical energy in the form of ATP, NADH, NADPH,
and FADH2. These energy carriers are used in anabolic pathways to convert small
37
precursor molecules into cell macromolecules
• The main purpose of fuel oxidation is to
generate ATP.
The pathways for the catabolism of dietary carbohydrate, protein, and fat
• Transport and fate of major carbohydrate and amino acid
substrates and metabolites

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• Transport and fate of major lipid substrates and metabolites
(FFA, free fatty acids; LPL, lipoproteinlipase; MG,
monoacylglycerol; TG, triacylglycerol; VLDL, very low density
lipoprotein)

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Cell and cellullar compartments
 Cell biologists can isolate organelles
to study their functions.

 The goal of cell fractionation is to

separate the major organelles of the
cells so their individual functions can
be studied.
 Cell; basic structural and functional unit of life
The cell itself made from biomolecules
protein……..17%
fat……………..13.8%
CHO………….1.5%
H2O…………..61.6%
minerals and vitamins…6.1%