Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

CHAPTER 1
Chemistry is the Logic of Biological Phenomena
to accompany Biochemistry, 2/e by Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham
All rights reserved. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to: Permissions Department, Harcourt Brace & Company, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Outline
1.1 Distinctive Properties of Living Systems 1.2 Biomolecules: Molecules of Life 1.3 Biomolecular Hierarchy 1.4 Properties of Biomolecules 1.5 Organization and Structure of Cells 1.6 Viruses as Cell Parasites

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

On Life and Chemistry...

Living things are composed of lifeless molecules (Albert Lehninger) Chemistry is the logic of biological phenomena (Garrett and Grisham)

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.1 Distinctive Properties of Living Systems

Organisms are complicated and highly organized Biological structures serve functional purposes Living systems are actively engaged in energy transformations Living systems have a remarkable capacity for self-replication

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life

H, O, C and N make up 99+% of atoms in the human body ELEMENT Oxygen Hydrogen Carbon Nitrogen PERCENTAGE 63 25.2 9.5 1.4

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life

What property unites H, O, C and N and renders these atoms so appropriate to the chemistry of life?
Answer: Their ability to form covalent bonds by electron-pair sharing.

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life

What are the bond energies of covalent bonds? Bond Energy kJ/mol H-H 436 C-H 414 C-C 343 C-O 351

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.3 A Biomolecular Hierarchy

Simple Molecules are the Units for Building Complex Structures
Metabolites and Macromolecules Organelles Membranes The Unit of Life is the Cell

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.4 Properties of Biomolecules Reflect Their Fitness to the Living Condition

Macromolecules and Their Building Blocks Have a Sense or Directionality Macromolecules are Informational Biomolecules Have Characteristic Three-Dimensional Architecture Weak Forces Maintain Biological Structure and Determine Biomolecular Interactions

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.4 Properties of Biomolecules Reflect Their Fitness to the Living Condition

Important numbers! van der Waals: 0.4-4.0 kJ/mole Hydrogen bonds: 12-30 kJ/mole Ionic bonds: 20 kJ/mole Hydrophobic interactions: <40 kJ/mole

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Two Important Points About Weak Forces

Biomolecular Recognition is Mediated by Weak Chemical Forces Weak Forces Restrict Organisms to a Narrow Range of Environmental Conditions

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Organization and Structure of Cells

Prokaryotic cells
A single (plasma) membrane no nucleus or organelles

Eukaryotic cells
much larger in size than prokaryotes 103-104 times larger! Nucleus plus many organelles ER, Golgi, mitochondria, etc.

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham