Biochemistry is the branch of science that explores the chemical processes within living organisms, bringing together biology and chemistry. It studies important biomolecules like RNA, DNA, proteins, and enzymes, and the metabolic reactions they are involved in. RNA, DNA, and proteins all have specific structures and functions, with RNA transporting amino acids and DNA storing genetic information. Enzymes act as catalysts to help complex biochemical reactions occur, with their activity dependent on temperature and other environmental factors.

1. Biochemistry
Presented by: Claire Gui

2. What is biochemistry?
• the branch of science that explores the chemical processes
within and related to living organisms
• a laboratory based science that brings together biology and
chemistry
• understand and solve biological problems

4. RNA
RNA is a polymer of
ribonucleotides linked together
by 3’-5’ phosphodiester linkage
It is an important molecule with
long chains of nucleotides.
A nucleotide contains a
nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar,
and a phosphate.

5. Types of RNA
In all prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, three main classes
of RNA molecules exist-
1) Messenger RNA(m RNA)
2) Transfer RNA (t RNA)
3) Ribosomal RNA (r RNA)
The other are –
small nuclear RNA (SnRNA),
micro RNA(mi RNA) and
small interfering RNA(Si RNA)
heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA).

6. DNA
• polymer of deoxyribo nucleotides
• found in chromosomes, mitochondria and
chloroplasts
• carries the genetic information

7. The primary structure of
DNA is the sequence
5’ end
3’ end
5’
3’
Phosphodiester
linkage
7Biochemistry for Medics

8. Function of DNA
• DNA usually occurs as linear chromosomes
in eukaryotes, and circular chromosomes in
prokaryotes.
• The set of chromosomes in a cell makes up
its genome; the human genome has
approximately 3 billion base pairs of DNA
arranged into 46 chromosomes.
• The information carried by DNA is held in
the sequence of pieces of DNA called
genes.

9. Protein
• are large biomolecules, or
macromolecules, consisting of one or
more long chains of amino acid residues
• perform a vast array of functions within
living organisms, including catalysing
metabolic reactions, DNA replication,
responding to stimuli, and transporting
molecules from one location to another.
• dictated by the nucleotide sequence of
their genes, and which usually results in
protein folding into a specific three-
dimensional structure that determines its
activity.

10. Chemical structure
• Chemical structure of the peptide bond
and the three-dimensional structure of a
peptide bond between an alanine and an
adjacent amino acid
• Most proteins consist of linear
polymers built from series of up to 20
different -amino acids.
• All proteinogenic amino acids possess
common structural features, including
an α-carbon to which an amino group, a
carboxyl group, and a variable side
chain are bonded.

11. Enzyme
• Enzymes are biological
molecules (proteins) that act as
catalysts and help complex
reactions occur everywhere in
life.
• The molecules at the beginning
of the process are called
substrates and the enzyme
converts these into different
molecules, called products.

12. Enzyme Activity
• Enzyme activity initially increases with temperature (Q10
coefficient) until the enzyme's structure unfolds (denaturation),
leading to an optimal rate of reaction at an intermediate
temperature.

13. Metabolic Reaction
• metabolism
• the sum of all chemical reactions
that occur in living organisms,
• the set of reactions within the
cells is called intermediary
metabolism or intermediate
metabolism.

14. Keybiochemical
• amino acids
• lipids
• carbohydrates
• nucleotides
• coenzymes
• minerals and cofactors