Protein Chemistry

Protein Chemistry

Chemical structure are the vocabulary of biochemistry.

Prof. Dr. Zeliha Büyükbingöl

What is biochemistry?

At its most basic, biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes occurring in living matter. However, this simple definition encompasses an incredibly diverse field of research that touches nearly all aspects of our lives.

Biochemistry covers a range of scientific disciplines, including genetics, microbiology, forensics, plant science and medicine. Perhaps the most obvious application of biochemistry in our everyday existence is in the field of health research. Biochemistry has been a key to our growing understanding of a myriad of health issues; from diabetes to arteriosclerosis to cancer.  The tools of biochemists have identified the gene, protein and pathway disruptions that lead to disease and, in many cases, point us to preventions, treatments or cures. From aspirin to interleukins, the treatment of human disease relies heavily on biochemistry.

What do biochemists do?

 Provide new ideas and experiments to understand how life works

 Support our understanding of health and disease

 Contribute innovative information to the technology revolution

 Work alongside chemists, physicists, healthcare professionals, policy makers, engineers and many more professionals

 Biochemists work in many places, including:

·         Hospitals

·         Universities

·         Agriculture

·         Food institutes

·         Education

·         Cosmetics

·         Forensic crime research

·         Drug discovery and development

 Biochemists have many

transferable skills, including:

·         Analytical

·         Communication

·         Research

·         Problem solving

·         Numerical

·         Written

·         Observational

·         Planning

This unit will introduce the course and cover the basics of biochemistry and cell composition.

 First, we will introduce the levels of organization of life, and the different types of organisms. We will then cover the structure of biological molecules and the molecular forces involved in the formation of these molecules. We will learn about the general structure and function of lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, as well as the composition, structure, and function of proteins. After learning about the major groups of macromolecules, we will explore their interactions within a cell, starting with metabolism, biochemical reactions, enzymes, coenzymes, vitamins and ATP as the energy

currency. We will outline the cellular mechanisms for harvesting energy from glucose and related sugars, briefly outline glycolysis as a mechanism to

generate ATP, and discuss the fate of the pyruvate produced in glycolysis under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Finally, we will cover the general ideas of photophosphorylation and how these two processes are used by cells to generate the ATP.

 Next semester we will learn lipid, protein, amino acid,

nucleic acid metabolism, protein biosynhesis, effects of hormones on metabolic reactions ,

minerals and acid-base balance in the body.

The living organisms appear extraordinarily diverse in almost every way.

 Living organisms have the following characteristics in common:

 Movement - they can move and change their position.

 Reproduction – they can make more of the same kind of organism as themselves.

 Sensitivity – they can detect or sense stimuli and respond to them.

 Growth - they can permanently increase their size by increasing the number or size of their cells.

 Respiration – they can create chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy.

 Excretion – they can excrete toxic materials, waste products of metabolism, and excess substances (note that excretion is not the same as egestion).

 Nutrition - they can take in and absorb nutrients such as organic substances and

mineral ions. These nutrients contain the raw materials or energy needed for growth and tissue repair.

What are macromolecules?

Living organisms should be able to transform matter and energy into different forms, show response to changes in their environment and show growth and reproduction. All living organisms undergo changes due to large organic compounds called macromolecules.

Four main types of macromolecules control all activities. They are proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and lipids.

A very large molecule made up of smaller units called monomers.  The monomers may be the same or slightly different.  

Nucleic acids

DNA & RNA; molecules that enable living

organisms to reproduce genetic information from one generation to the next

Carbohydrates

Molecules that provide fuel and build structures in the body

Proteins

Molecules that provide structural support, storage, transport, cell communication, movement, and defense

Lipids

Molecules that store energy and regulate the body's metabolic processes

Monomers and polymers

 Most large biological molecules are polymers, long chains made up of repeating molecular subunits, or building blocks, called monomers.

 Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins are often found as long

polymers in nature. Lipids are not usually polymers and are smaller than the other three.

The Molecular Composition of Cells

 Cells are composed of water, inorganic ions, and organic molecules.

Water is the most abundant molecule in cells.

 Wide variations in fat content from 1.0 to 23 % were found. On a fat-free basis the body composition protein 12 to 23 %, and water 70 to 80 %.

 Water is distributed between intracellular and extracellular

compartments. Because water is a dipolar molecule with an uneven distribution of electrons between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms , it forms hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules and acts as a solvent.