Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Setting the Stage

Early History of Biochemistry

Elements in Biomolecules
Biological Macromolecules
Organelles, Cells and Organisms

1!

Roots of modern biochemistry

2!

Roots of modern biochemistry

3!

Roots of modern biochemistry

4!

Road to modern biochemistry

Two separate approaches were taken.
One route can be traced though the
physical sciences which stressed
structural characterization
- chemistry and physics.

..

!"

O
||

Another path was followed by biologists.

They tended to characterize living
organisms and cells.
The paths converged in 1952 with the
characterization of DNA - Watson & Crick.
5!

6!

Living matter contains

C, H, O, N, S and P

Road to modern biochemistry

Cell nuclei
Cell theory

Genetics
Discovery of DNA
Genetics of Drosophila
Electron Microscope
DNA function
X-Ray of protein crystals
Restriction Enzymes
Catalytic RNA
Gene therapy

1830
|
1850
|
1870
|
1890
|
1910
|
1930
|
1950
|
1970
|
1990

Urea Synthesis
Chemistry used to describe biology

Description of fermentation
Crystallization of urease
Description of glycolysis
Description of citric acid cycle
DNA double helix
Genetic code
Recombinant DNA
Polymerase chain reaction
7!

Elements in living systems.

IA
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
6!

II A !

8!

Biomolecules

III A IV A V A VI A VIIA VIIIA !

H!

He!

Li! Be!

B! C!

Na! Mg! III B IVB V B VIB VIIB

VIII B

IB

IIB ! Al! Si!

N! O!
P!

F! Ne!

S! Cl! Ar!

K! Ca! Sc! Ti! V! Cr! Mn! Fe! Co! Ni! Cu! Zn! Ga! Ge! As! Se! Br! Kr!
Rb! Sr! Y! Zr! Nb! Mo! Tc! Ru! Rh! Pd! Ag! Cd! In! Sn! Sb! Te!

I! Xe!

Cs! Ba! La! Hf! Ta! W! Re! Os! Ir! Pt! Au! Hg! Tl! Pb! Bi! Po! At! Rn!

macronutrients
trace essential
trace, possibly essential

9!

Heme

10!

Biological macromolecules

Porphyrin rings play

significant roles in
a wide range of
biomolecules.
Heme has an Fe2+ at
its center. It forms
a complex with
oxygen which is
used to transport
O2.

11!

12!

Organelles, cells and organisms.

Supramolecular assemblies

In many cases, biochemicals tend to cluster

together, forming increasing more
complex structures.
Even the simplest of these clusters are
still very large.
A point is then reached where it is
considered a living system.
13!

Virus

14!

Prokaryotic cells

Head
DNA
Body
Tail filament

Bacteriophage
(Complex shape)
15!

Prokaryotic cells
Cell wall

Eukaryotic cells

Cell membrane
Pili

More advanced type of cell. All advanced

lifeforms are of this type.
!Larger cells - 10-100m.
!Presence of organelles - membrane
enclosed packages of organized
macromolecules - nucleus, endoplasmic
reticulum, mitochondria.
!Specialized organelles based on cell type.
Example - Plant cells have chloroplasts
and animal cells have lysosomes.

Flagella

Nucleotide

Mesosome

16!

Ribosome
17!

18!

Eukaryotic cells
Golgi
complex
Nucleus
Mitochondria
Endoplasmic
reticulum
Vesicle

19!