Course code: BCM150

Program: DIPLOMA IN MICROBIOLOGY

Program code: AS114

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is an introductory course in basic
biochemistry concepts in the following
topics: carbohydrate, fatty acids,
enzymes, amino acids, proteins, nucleic
acids and metabolism.

COURSE OUTCOME
Upon completion of this course, students should be able

to:
1. Define the basic constituents of macromolecules
(carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids) and
enzymes.
2. Describe the classification, structure and functions of
macromolecules (carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids,
nucleic acids) and enzymes.
3. Explain and identify the basic energy generated
processes.

What is Biochemistry?
It is the study of chemistry of living
things.
DNA, enzymes, fats, carbohydrates

and hormones are all part of the

discipline of Biochemistry.

WHY STUDY
BIOCHEMISTRY?

Lead us to fundamental understanding of life

How organisms store & transfer information, how food
digested, how a brain cell store information.
Understand the important issues in medicine, health
& nutrition can search cures for HIV, diabetes,
recombinant DNA help in find new mutation and new
plant
Advance biotechnology industries
the application of biological materials to technical
useful operation e.g.- enzymes in the pharmaceutical
industry to synthesis complex drugs

 Biochemistry explains the essential processes of life and

has large impact on:

Biotechnology and bioinformatics
Cell biology and signalling
Development and disease
Energy and metabolism
Genetics
Molecular biology
Plant biology

Biochemists:
Provide new ideas and experiments, essential for
understanding how life works
Support our understanding of health and disease
Drive the discovery of new ways to use molecular systems
and their biological functions
Contribute essential innovative information to the
technology revolution
Work together as part of a team with chemists, physicists,
healthcare professionals, government policy makers,
engineers, zoologists, environmental scientists, sales and
marketing managers, journalists and other professionals
from a variety of different disciplines

Biochemists have high-value jobs that influence work in:

Hospitals, university research departments,

agriculture, food institutes, education,

scientific law, cosmetic industries, forensic
crime research, industrial laboratories, drug
manufacturing, biotechnology, publishing,
sales and marketing, government
administration, science writing and many
more

THREE AREAS TO STUDY

3
3

2
2

1. Structural and functional

biochemistry
Focuses on discovering
chemical structures & 3dimentional arrangements of
biomolecules
2. Informational biochemistry
Defines language (s) for storing
biological data & transmitting it
in cells and organisms
3. Bioenergetics
the flow of energy in living
organisms and how it
transferred from one process to
another study of metabolism

1. BIOMOLECULES?
Field of Biochemistry draws many disciplines - allows us

to answer questions related to molecular nature of life

Organic chemistry: the study of the compounds of
carbon
A biomolecule is a molecule that naturally occurs in
living organisms.
Biomolecules consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen,
along with nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
Biomolecules - proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic
acids.

Biomolecules (Contd)
Living cells include very large molecules, such as proteins,

nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids

biomolecules are polymers (Greek: poly + meros, many

+ parts)
are derived from monomers (Greek: mono + meros,
single + part)

amino acids --> proteins

nucleotides --> nucleic acids
monosaccharides --> polysaccharides
glycerol and 3 fatty acids --> lipids

Biomolecules (Contd)
Enzymes: a class of proteins that are biocatalysts
the catalytic effectiveness of an enzyme depends

on its amino acid sequence

Genetic code: the relationship between the
nucleotide sequence in nucleic acids and the amino

acid sequence in proteins

Biomolecules (Contd)
Functional

group: an
atom or
group of
atoms that
shows
characteristic
physical and
chemical
properties

Biomolecules

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation-Reduction reactions are those in which electrons

are transferred from a donor to an acceptor

oxidation: the loss of electrons; the substance that loses
the electrons is called a reducing agent
reduction: the gain of electrons; the substance that gains
the electrons is called an oxidizing agent
Carbon in most reduced form- alkane
Carbon in most oxidized form- CO2

What makes water polar

What is a polar bond:

Electrons are unequally shared, more negative charge found closer to one atom.
Due to difference in electronegativity of atoms involved in bond.

Solvent Properties of H2O

Hydrophilic: water-loving
tend to dissolve in water
Hydrophobic: water-fearing
tend not to dissolve in water
Amphipathic: has characteristics of both properties
molecules that contain one or more hydrophobic and one
or more hydrophilic regions, e.g., sodium palmitate

Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen bond: the attractive interaction between dipoles

when:
positive end of one dipole is a hydrogen atom bonded to an atom

of high electronegativity, most commonly O or N, and

the negative end of the other dipole is an atom with a lone pair of
electrons, most commonly O or N

Hydrogen bond is non-covalent

Hydrogen Bonding
Even though hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds,

they have a significant effect on the physical properties of

hydrogen-bonded compounds

Other Biologically Important Hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen bonding is important in stabilization of 3-D
structures of biological molecules such as: DNA, RNA,
proteins.

2. CENTRAL
DOGMA?
Biological information flow from DNA RNA
PROTEIN

Informational Macromolecules

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Prokaryote: Greek derivation meaning before the

nucleus
single-celled organisms
include bacteria and cyanobacteria

Eukaryote: Greek derivation meaning true nucleus

contain a well-defined nucleus surrounded by a

nuclear membrane
can be single celled, such as yeasts and Paramecium,
or multicellular, such as animals and plants

Comparison of Prokaryotes and

Eukaryotes

A Comparison of a typical animal cell, plant

cell, and prokaryotic cell

Important organelles listed in

table 1.3

3. METABOLISM: how cells acquire, transform, store

and use energy/ATP

ATP = ENERGY

Entrance survey

~End of chapter~