CHM 3300 – Survey of Biochemistry

Fall 2007, Eastern Illinois University

Dr. Scott Tremain

Lecture: M W F at 3:00 to 3:50 P.M. in PHYS 4020

Text: Concepts in Biochemistry, 3rd Edition by Boyer, 2006
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What is Biochemistry?
Biochemistry – the study of life at the molecular level

Biochemistry is a Research Discipline Applicable to the Real World

Medicine/Clinical/Nutrition
-diagnose and monitor disease
-design drugs (new antibiotics, chemotherapy agents)
-protein diseases (Mad Cow, Alzheimer’s, Cystic Fibrosis)
Agriculture
-new herbicides and pesticides
-transgenic crops
Industry (Biotechnology, Genomics, Proteomics, Pharmaceutical)
-synthesis
-detoxification

Three Areas of Study

Conformational – structure and 3D arrangements of biomolecules
Metabolism – energy production and utilization
Informational – language for communication inside and between cells
DNA Æ RNA Æ Protein Æ Cellular Processes
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Biochemists Are Concerned With Everything

™Biochemistry seeks to describe the structure, organization, and function
of living organisms in molecular terms
™To understand life on the molecular level, you must
-know the chemical structures & function of biological molecules
-understand the molecular processes in the expression of genetic information
-understand bioenergetics (the study of energy flow in cells)
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Biochemistry: From Atoms to Molecules to Cells

(Chapter 1)
™Biochemical studies lead to a more fundamental understanding of life &
impacts the treatment of disease & solves environmental problems.
1.1 The Roots of Biochemistry
-Friedrich Wöhler’s chemical synthesis of urea
1.2 All Living Matter Contains C, H, O, N, P & S
-essential elements that make up the bulk of mass of any living organism
-all biological molecules (amino acids, proteins, glucose, polysaccharides,
lipids, nucleotides, DNA, RNA, etc.) are constructed from these elements
1.3 Biological Macromolecules
-major classes are proteins, polysaccharides (carbohydrates), nucleic acids
(DNA, RNA); (lipids are a major class of biomolecules, but not polymeric)
1.4 Organelles, Cells & Organisms
-self-assembly of macromolecules into higher levels of order ÆÆÆ cell
-cell structure & organelles for prokaryotes & eukaryotes
1.5 Storage & Transfer of Biological Information – A Preview
-DNA, RNA, proteins & some carbohydrates are information rich (sequence)
-DNA replication, transcription & translation (protein synthesis)
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1.1 Roots of Biochemistry

Learning Objectives: have an appreciation for the historical roots of biochemistry;
recognize the scope of topics in the realm of biochemistry; see biochemistry’s impact on
medicine, health, technology & everyday life.
™EXAMPLE: Briefly describe the idea of vitalism.

™Friedrich Wöhler (1828)

™James Watson & Francis Crick (1952)

™EXAMPLE: Briefly describe how the techniques & goals of “molecular biology”
& “biochemistry” are different.
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1.2 Living Matter Contains C, H, O, N, P & S

Learning Objectives: have a general knowledge of the elemental composition of
biomolecules; know the biologically important functional groups.
™Chemical Elements in Living Cells

Bulk Elements & Essential

Trace Elements & Very Likely Essential
Essential Elements In Some Organisms
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Biologically Important Functional Groups (Page 11)

™EXAMPLE: Circle & label

the functional groups in
acetyl coenzyme A.
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1.3 Biological Macromolecules

Learning Objectives: identify the major classes of biomolecules found in living matter &
understand their polymeric nature.
™Four Properties of Biological Macromolecules

™EXAMPLE: Complete the table below:

The Four Main Types of Biomolecules
Monomer Polymer General Function

Peptides & Catalysts and

Proteins Structural Elements

Monosaccharides

Energy Sources and

Fatty Acids Structural Elements of
Complex Lipids

Nucleic Acids:
DNA &RNA
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1.4 Organelles, Cells, and Organisms

Learning Objectives: understand the basic role of the cell as the fundamental unit of life;
know the structural features of & differences between prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells.
™Comparison of Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes
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Composition of Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells

(Organelles)
Cell Wall –
Pili/Flagella –
Cell Membrane –
Mesosome –
Nucleoid Region –
Ribosomes –
Vacuoles –
Cytoplasm –
Nucleus –
Endoplasmic Reticulum –
Golgi Apparatus –
Mitochondria –
Lysosomes (Animals) or Glyoxysomes (Plant) –
Chloroplasts (Plant) –
Cytoskeleton –
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1.5 Storage & Transfer of Biological Information – A

Preview
Learning Objectives: have a general understanding of the roles of DNA & RNA in the
molecular processes of storage, retrieval & transfer of biological (genetic) information.
™Nucleic Acids Are Information Rich

™EXAMPLE: Briefly describe the central dogma of

molecular biology (biological information transfer):
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Structure of the DNA Double Helix

™EXAMPLE: Describe the structure & bonding of the DNA double helix.
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Biological Information Transfer in Cells

DNAÆDNA (Replication)
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Biological Information Transfer in Cells – Cont.

DNAÆRNA (Transcription)

™EXAMPLE: What is the difference between prokaryotic & eukaryotic mRNA?

mRNAÆProtein (Translation)