CHAPTER 1 :

BIOMOLECULES AND
THERMODYNAMICS
 Learning outcomes
Students should be able to :
 Define biochemistry and biomolecules
 Recognize various form of biomolecules
 Identify functional groups for specific biomolecules
 Understand thermodynamics
 Identify the differences between two laws of
thermodynamics
 Biochemistry
 A study of chemical processes in living
organisms or biological systems with respect
to structures, functions and interactions of
cellular components such as proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.

LO
 Biomolecules
 Biomolecules are organic molecules produced by living
organism.
 Biomolecules arise from very simple molecules, such as
H2O, CH4, CO2, NH3, N2, and H2.

 Biomolecules :
 Protein - amino acid
 Nucleic acid - nucleotide
 Lipid
 Sugar - monosaccharide
 Vitamin
LO
 c
a

What are important chemical bonds

for polymerization of these basic
unit/monomers?
 D-glucose

D-galactose CH2 OH -1,4-glycosidic bond

O OH
4 HO CH OH
2
CH2 OH OH O CH2 OH
HO O O 4
HO 1 O O
OH 1 OH OH HO OH
OH
HO -1,4-glycosidic bond
  Functional group: an atom or group of atoms that
shows characteristic physical and chemical properties
O
an alkene CH3 CH= CH2 a carboxylic acid CH3 COH
an alcohol CH3 CH2 OH O
an e ther CH3 OCH3 a carboxylic e ster CH3 COCH 3
O
an amine ( CH3 ) 2 N H
an amide CH3 CNH 2
a thiol CH3 CH2 SH
O
O
a phosphoric ester HO- P-OCH3
an aldehyde CH3 CH
OH
O O
O
a ketone CH3 CCH3 a phosphoric acid HO- P-O- P-OH
anhydride OH OH

LO
 How Cells Use Energy
 Light from the sun is the ultimate source of
energy for all life on earth

 photosynthetic organisms use light

energy to drive the energy-requiring
synthesis of carbohydrates

 non-photosynthetic organisms
consume these carbohydrates and use
them as energy sources

 The energetic of a chemical reaction :

 if the change in free energy is negative

(free energy decreases), the reaction is
spontaneous

 if the change in positive (free energy

increases), the reaction is non-
spontaneous LO
 Chemical energy

1. Heat energy
2. Mechanical energy
3. Electrical energy
 Thermodynamics
 Thermodynamics: A collection of laws and principles describing the
flow and interchange of heat, energy and mass (water and carbon
dioxide) in a system of interest that occur in and between living
organisms, structures, and cells.

 Thermodynamics allows us to determine whether a chemical process

or reaction will occur spontaneously.

 The amount of energy capable of doing work during a chemical

reaction is measured quantitatively by the change in the Gibbs free
energy.

 In cellular system, what contributes to energy changes ?????????

 State of molecules at start and end of reaction.

LO
 State of molecules at start and end of reaction.

start

end
 Oxidation /
reduction

Formation/ Thermodynamics
breakdown ADP + Pi =
of chemical is involved in ATP
bonds various situations

Catabolism/
anabolism
 Can be a chemical reaction, cellular
compartment or metabolic pathway

 There are three (3) thermodynamic quantities describe

energy changes in living systems : energy
Thermodynamics
event

1. Gibbs free energy (G) – free enthalpy

2. Enthalpy (H) – measure of total energy
3. Entropy (S) – measure of disorder of constituents

 For any process at constant P and T:

system
G = H - TS

If G = 0, reaction is at equilibrium
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 First Law of Thermodynamics: The total amount of
energy in an isolated system is conserved, though the form
of the energy may change (focus on enthalpy).

 Second Law of Thermodynamics: In all natural

(spontaneous) processes, the entropy of the universe
increases (focus on entropy).

1st

2nd LO
 When :
G < 0 spontaneous, exergonic, energy released
G = 0 equilibrium
G > 0 non-spontaneous, endergonic,,energy required

spontaneous

non-spontaneous

a b Oxidation -
reduction
LO
 Spontaneous reaction = energy
released/catabolism / oxidation /
dephosphorylation

Non-spontaneous reaction = ????

Thermodynamics in glucose metabolism

LO