BCH 400/600 Introductory Biochemistry

Instructor: David Shintani Office: 311C Fleischmann Ag. Lab: 308 Fleischmann Ag. E-mail: shintani@unr.edu Phone: (775) 784-4631

Before BCH 400

BCH 400 is heavy on content!!!

After BCH 400

Come to class!!!!!!

Try not to fall behind!!

 Review lecture notes. Read book chapters.

http://www.ag.unr.edu/shintani/bch400-600/index.html

Principles of Biochemistry 4th Edition

Principles of Biochemistry 3rd Edition

Use tools to memorize

Histidine?

Study in groups

Participate in the clicker system!!!

20 extra credit points!!

My e-mail me for Or office hours are Tuedays from a private audience 2:00 to 3:00 PM

Feel Free to see me!

What is Biochemistry?
Biochemistry = chemistry of life. Biochemists use physical and chemical principles to explain biology at the molecular level. Basic principles of biochemistry are common to all living organism

How does biochemistry impact you?

Medicine Agriculture Industrial applications Environmental applications

Principle Areas of Biochemistry

Structure and function of biological macromolecules Metabolism anabolic and catabolic processes. Molecular Genetics How life is replicated. Regulation of protein synthesis

Life Before Biochemistry

Once upon a time, a long long time ago..

Vitalism: idea that substances and processes associated with living organisms did not behave according to the known laws of physics and chemistry Evidence: 1) Only living things have a high degree of complexity 2) Only living things extract, transform and utilize energy from their environment 3) Only living things are capable of self assembly and self replication

Origins of Biochemistry: A challenge to Vitalism.

Famous Dead Biochemist!

Fallacy #1: Biochemicals can only be produced by living organisms Dead Biochemist #1 1828 Friedrich Wohler

Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter Dead Biochemists #2 1897 Eduard Buchner

Glucose + Dead Yeast = Alcohol

Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter

Dead Biochemists #3 Emil Fischer

Fallacy #2: Complex bioconversion of chemical substances require living matter

Dead Biochemists #4
1926 J.B. Sumner

Findings of other famous dead biochemist

1944 Avery, MacLeod and McCarty identified DNA as information molecules 1953 Watson (still alive) and Crick proposed the structure of DNA 1958 Crick proposed the central dogma of biology

Organization of Life
elements simple organic compounds (monomers) macromolecules (polymers) supramolecular structures organelles cells tissues organisms

Range of the sizes of objects studies by Biochemist and Biologist

1 angstrom = 0.1 nm

Elements of Life

Most abundant, essential for all organisms: C, N, O, P, S, H Less abundant, essential for all organisms : Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cl Trace levels, essential for all organism: Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn Trace levels, essential for some organisms: V, Cr, Mo, B, Al, Ga, Sn, Si, As, Se, I,

Important compounds, functional groups

Many Important Biomolecules are Polymers

lipids
monomer
fatty acid

proteins
amino acid

carbo
glucose

nucleic acids
nucleotide

polymer phospholipid supramolecular structure

membrane

protein subunit

cellulose

DNA

protein complex

cell wall

chromosome

Lipids
monomer
fatty acid

polymer phospholipid supramolecular structure

membrane

Proteins

monomer

amino acid

polymer protein subunit supramolecular structure Enzyme complex

Carbohydrates

monomer glucose polymer cellulose supramolecular structure cell wall

Nucleic Acids
monomer polymer supramolecular structure
nucleotide

DNA

chromatin

Common theme: Monomers form polymers through condensations Polymers are broken down through hydrolysis.

Prokaryote Cell

Cellular Organization of an E. coli Cell

200 300 mg protein / mL cytoplasm

Eukaryote Cell