Biochemistry

• Biochemistry


  Chemistry of life
• Important substances in biochemistry

  • 96% O2, C, H, N
  • 3.8% Ca, P, K, S, Na, Cl, Mg, Fe
  • 0.2% Al, B, Cr, Co, Cu, F, I, Mn, Mo, Se, Si, Sn, V, Zn
• Hydrogen


  Symbol: H, Atomic number: 1, Atomic mass: 1 Da, Bonds with: 1 other atom
• Carbon


  Symbol: C, Atomic number: 6, Atomic mass: 12 Da, Bonds with: 4 other atoms
• Nitrogen


  Symbol: N, Atomic number: 7, Atomic mass: 14 Da, Bonds with: 3 other atoms
• Oxygen


  Symbol: O, Atomic number: 8, Atomic mass: 16 Da, Bonds with: 2 other atoms
• Phosphorus


  Symbol: P, Atomic number: 15, Atomic mass: 31 Da, Bonds with: 5 other atoms
• Sulphur


  Symbol: S, Atomic number: 16, Atomic mass: 32 Da, Bonds with: 2 other atoms
• Atoms are joined by covalent bonds to form molecules e.g. C6H12O6
• Molecular weight


  Calculated by multiplying the number of atoms by their respective atomic mass and adding
• Mole


  A mole of substance is always equal to the atomic mass in grams of the substance and contains 6.023 × 1023 atoms of that substance (Avogadro's number)
• Molarity


  The number of moles of the substance in each volume e.g. 1 Molar glucose = 1 mole of glucose in 1 litre
• Making 100 ml of 0.5M glucose

  1. Grams of glucose = molecular weight x concentration (M) x volume (L)

  2. Grams needed = 9g
• Cells


  Building blocks of organisms
• Macromolecules & Nutrients


  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Vitamins & minerals
• Carbohydrates


  • Contain at least two hydroxyl groups
  • Great source of energy
  • Offer cells external protection (e.g. cellulose)
  • Assist cells in recognising molecules when attached to proteins & lipid
  • In the form of ribose/deoxyribose, part of every building block of nucleic acids
• Monosaccharides


  Simplest form of carbohydrate, number of carbons determines name (trioses, pentoses, hexoses)
• Oligosaccharides


  When 2-10 monosaccharides link covalently, the linkages are called glycosidic
• Polysaccharides


  Formed from >10 monosaccharides, cellulose is a polymer of glucose, found in plants and is the main solid constituent providing support, a major constituent of dietary fibre
• Starch


  Major form of carbohydrate, found in the seeds of plants, mixture of amylose and amylopectin, structurally similar to glycogen which is the major source of stored carbohydrate in the body
• Lipids


  • Exists as large tissue (adipose), also vital constituent of membranes, hormones and vitamins, common feature is low solubility in water
• Fatty Acids


  Organic acids containing a relatively large number of carbon atoms (12-26), consist of a long carbon chain with hydrogen atoms all around and a carboxyl group at one end
• Saturated and Unsaturated fatty acids


  Saturated - all carbons linked by single bonds, unsaturated - presence of double bonds
• Triglyceride

  The most abundant lipid category, constituting 95% dietary fat, serve as energy depots, consist of a glycerol unit and three fatty acids connected via Ester links
• Vitamins & minerals


  • Complement carbohydrates, fats and protein in nutrition, no energy value, vital regulators of numerous bodily functions, involved in energy provision during exercise, classified as water or fat soluble
• Sodium


  Main cation in extracellular fluids, essential for electrical transmission in nerves and muscle, maintains water content in various compartments of the body
• Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Iron


  Potassium (K+) interacts with Na+ to maintain fluid balance and electrical impulses, Calcium (Ca2+) - critical component of bones and blood clotting, Magnesium (Mg2+) - cofactor for hundreds of enzymes, Iron (Fe2+) - embedded in proteins handling oxygen and the electron transport chain
• Copper, Zinc and Manganese


  Copper is a cofactor for cytochrome c, a key component of the electron transport chain, Zinc (ZN2+) sits in the active sites of around 200 enzymes, including carbonic anhydrase that helps rid CO2, Manganese also a cofactor for over 100 enzymes involved in metabolism
• Chlorine

  Chloride (Cl-) is the main anion in extracellular fluids, where it interacts with Na in the maintenance of fluid balance and electrical charges across cell membranes, also used in production of digestive hydrochloric acid
• Phosphorus

  Phosphoryl groups are covalently attached to a vast array of biological compounds (nucleic acids, high energy phosphates)
• Biochemistry


  Chemistry of life
• Important substances in biochemistry


  • 96% O2, C, H, N
  • 3.8% Ca, P, K, S, Na, Cl, Mg, Fe
  • 0.2% Al, B, Cr, Co, Cu, F, I, Mn, Mo, Se, Si, Sn, V, Zn
• Atoms are joined by covalent bonds to form molecules e.g. C6H12O6
• Molecular weight


  Calculated by multiplying the number of atoms by their respective atomic mass and adding
• Mole


  A mole of substance is always equal to the atomic mass in grams of the substance and contains 6.023 × 10^23 atoms of that substance (Avogadro's number)
• Molarity


  The number of moles of the substance in each volume
• Making 100 ml of 0.5M glucose

  1. Grams of glucose = molecular weight x concentration (M) x volume (L)

  2. Grams needed = 9g
• Cells


  Building blocks of organisms
• Macromolecules & Nutrients


  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Vitamins & minerals
• Carbohydrates


  • Contain at least two hydroxyl groups
  • Great source of energy
  • Offer cells external protection (e.g. cellulose)
  • Assist cells in recognising molecules when attached to proteins & lipid
  • In the form of ribose/deoxyribose, part of every building block of nucleic acids