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Chapter 1 - Intorduction To Biochemistry

Biochemistry seeks to describe the structure, organization, and function of living matter. The document introduces key concepts in biochemistry including: 1) The roots of biochemistry date back to 1828 when Wohler first synthesized urea in the lab, demonstrating that organic compounds can be produced non-biologically. 2) Early life likely arose from simple organic molecules formed from inorganic precursors on the early Earth. These simple molecules combined and condensed to form more complex molecules and the first self-replicating systems. 3) Cells evolved as the basic units of life, with compartmentalization allowing for high concentration of molecules and protection. Eukaryotic cells are more complex than prokaryotic cells

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321 views26 pages

Chapter 1 - Intorduction To Biochemistry

Biochemistry seeks to describe the structure, organization, and function of living matter. The document introduces key concepts in biochemistry including: 1) The roots of biochemistry date back to 1828 when Wohler first synthesized urea in the lab, demonstrating that organic compounds can be produced non-biologically. 2) Early life likely arose from simple organic molecules formed from inorganic precursors on the early Earth. These simple molecules combined and condensed to form more complex molecules and the first self-replicating systems. 3) Cells evolved as the basic units of life, with compartmentalization allowing for high concentration of molecules and protection. Eukaryotic cells are more complex than prokaryotic cells

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INTRODUCTION TO

BIOCHEMISTRY

HUMAN
BIOCHEMISTRY
(HCD 12103)

What is biochemistry?
Biochemistry
seek to describe

structure

organization

Of living matter

function

Roots of biochemistry
Before the 19th century-it
was believed that
substances were different
from living and those in non
living matter.
1828- Wohler showed that
urea (biological origin),
could be synthesized in the
lab from ammonium
cyanate
O
I must tell u that I can
prepare urea without requiring
a kidney or animal, either man
or dog
- Friedrich Wohler (1800-1882)

NH4+NCO-

ammonium
cyanate

H2N-C-NH2
urea

Father of Biochemistry
Carl Alexander
Neuberg
(1877-1956)

Origin of life
Certain biochemical features are
common to all organisms:
how hereditary info is encoded and
expressed
how biological molecules are built
and broken down for energy
Underlying genetic and biochemical
unity of modern organisms suggests
they are descended from a single
ancestor.

A) Biological molecules arose from


inorganic materials
Living matter consist of relatively small number of
elements.
E.g.: C,H,O,N,P,Ca and S ~97% of the dry weight of
human body (70% from total weight are water)
Earliest fossil evidence of life is ~3.5 billion years old.

Early earth probably consist of small, simple


compound e.g. H2O, N2 and CO2.

2 suggestion of how biological molecules were


generated :
i) Oparin & Haldane uv from sun/lightning
(electric discharge)
ii) Other scientist hydrothermal vents in the
ocean floor emit solutions of metal sulfides at
high temperature (~400C), provide suitable
conditions

Whatever their actual origin, the early organic


molecules became the precursors of variety of
biological molecules.

B) Complex self-replicating systems


evolved from simple molecules

To form more complex molecules,


simple organic molecules :
condensed or;
combined end-to-end as polymers
of repeating units
Condensation = H2O lost
Hydrolysis = splitting by adding
the
element
of
water

H
R-C-OH + N-R
H
hydrolysis

condensatio
n
H2 O

H2 O

O
R-C-NH-R
Reaction of a carboxylic acid with an amine

Cellular architecture
Cell carry out metabolic reactions
Advantage of compartmentation :
Protection from adverse environmental forces
Maintain high local concentration of components
Membrane-bounded compartment would have
different composition from surrounding :
High concentration of ions, small molecules and
large molecular aggregates
e.g. : * E. coli contains millions molecules
represent
some 3000-6000 different
compound
* a typical animal cell may contain 100
000
different type of molecules
A)

Figure 1:cross-section of E. coli


cell

B) 2 types of cells: prokaryotes &


eukaryotes

Eukaryotic Cell Structure

Organismal evolution

Biological classification based on


reproductive/developmental strategies
reflect evolution history more accurately
Phylogenetic relationships are best deduced
by comparing polymeric molecules RNA,
DNA or protein from different organisms
Analysis of RNA by Carl Woese grouped all
organisms into 3 domains:
1) Archaea/archaebacteria
2) Bacteria/eubacteria
3) Eukarya

Figure 2 : Phylogenetic tree of

Eukaryotes probably evolved from


association of archaebacterial and
eubacterial cells.
The eukaryotic cell genetic material
includes features that suggest an
archeabacterial origin.
Mitochondria and chloroplasts of
modern eukaryote cells resemble
bacteria in size and shape, both types
of organelles contain their own
genetic material and protein synthetic
machinery

Organisms continue to
evolve

a mutation will be passed on to the next generation if


it increases the chances of survival
beneficial mutations tend to spread rapidly through a
population
Not directed
toward
a particular goal

Variation among
individuals

Principles
of evolution

Evolution is
ongoing

The past
determines
the future

Thermodynamics
Greek: therme = heat, dynamics =
power
The study of energy and its effect
on matter
Life obeys the laws of
thermodynamics
Important :
To describe particular process
e.g.: biochemical reaction
To predict whether that process
can actually occur

System = part of the universe that is


of interest such as a reaction vessel
or an organism
Surroundings = everything else in
the universe
Three basic system : isolated, closed
and open system.

The First Law of


Thermodynamic
The first law of thermodynamics
states that energy is conserved
it cannot be created or destroyed.
when the system undergoes a
change, some of its energy can be
used to perform work.
U = Ufinal Uinitial = Q - W
= change

Q= heat

U= energy

W= work

U = Q - W

Heat
(Q)
Internal
energy
(U)

system
Internal energy = energy stored in the system

Work
(W)

The Second Law of


Thermodynamics
the second law of thermodynamics states that
entropy tends to increase
Explain the phenomenon of irreversibility in
nature
Spontaneous process are characterized by the
conversion of order to disorder
All naturally occurring processes proceed toward
equilibrium, that is to a state of minimum
potential energy
Entropy a measure of the disorder of
molecules in a system

Example: Irreversible heat flow


Th
Tf
Tc
(b
(a
)
)
Heat flow from high T to low T is irreversible.
The initial (a) and final (b) states have the same
energy but have different ability to do work

Thank you for your


attention..

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