This document provides an overview of biochemistry for nurses. It discusses topics including the definition and scope of biochemistry, enzymology, factors affecting enzyme activity, coenzymes and cofactors, vitamins, endocrinology, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, mineralogy, and diseases related to the metabolism of these biomolecules. The document is intended to introduce nurses to key concepts and applications of biochemistry.

1. BIOCHEMISTRY for NURSES
By
Mr BABILLA OSWALD
BMLS (UBa), BSc Zoo (UB)
Director of Laboratory, EXIPS

2.  Biochemistry is a science concerned with the chemical nature and behaviour
of biomolecules in living matter.
 It looks into the chemical constituent of living matter, their transformation
and the energy changes associated to these transformations.
 Modern biochemistry correlates physical events e.g vital signs with the help
of chemical processes.
 Biochemistry involves disciplines such as Enzymology, Endocrinology, clinical
biochemistry, molecular biochemistry, pharmaceutical biochemistry and
agricultural biochemistry.
INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY

3. Advances in biochemistry has enable its application in;
 Medical field
 Genetic engineering
 Feed proteins
 Biological control
 Control of pollution
 Industrial development
SCOPE OF BIOCHEMISTRY

4.  It is the study of enzymes and the different factors that affect their activity.
 Enzymes are proteins with high specificity and they usually remain
unchanged at the end of every biochemical reactions.
 They are named by adding ‘ase’ to the name of the substrate of the
reaction they catalyse.
 The International Enzyme Commission (IEC) classifies enzymes into six
classes based on the reaction they catalyses;
Oxidoreductase, Transferase, Hydrolase, Lyase, Isomerase and Ligase.
ENZYMOLOGY

5. There are many factors that affect the activity of enzymes and these include;
 Enzyme concentration.
 pH (below or above their optimum pH reduces their activity).
 Temperature (below or above their optimum temperature reduces their
activity).
 Inhibitors e.g heavy metals such as Lead (Pb).
 Activators e.g presence of HCl increases proteolytic activity.
FACTORS AFFECTING ENZYME
ACTIVITY

6.  Coenzymes are non-protein dialysable organic compounds which are
bound to the enzyme protein.
 They enhances the catalytic activity of several enzymes.
 Coenzymes are derived from water-soluble B-complex vitamins e.g
NAD, FAD, ATP and CoA
 Cofactors are metal ions e.g Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Fe2+/Fe3+
 Enzyme-Cofactor complex are termed Holozymes while enzyme alone
are called Apozymes.
COENZYMES AND COFACTORS

7.  Vitamins are organic compounds which are needed in small amounts for the
functioning of the body.
 They are either water-soluble (vit B & C) or fat-soluble (vit A,D,E and K).
 Water-soluble vitamins includes;
 Vit B complex is composed of 8 B-vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine,
biotin, cobalamin, folic acid and pantothenic acid).
 Vitamin C is called ascorbic acid.
VITAMINOLOGY

8.  Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands and tissues.
 They are protein in nature, carried in bloodstream, target specific and their
actions are long lasting compared to the nervous system.
 They include;
Growth hormone (GH) or somatotrophic hormone (STH), adenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), thyrotrophic
hormone (TH) or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone
(LH), melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), vasopressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), oxytocin or pitocin,
thyrocin, thyrocalcitonin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids,
adrenaline/epinephrine, noradrenaline/norepinephrine, insulin, glucagon, androgen, oestrogen, progesterone,
human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), chorionic growth hormone (CGH) and melatonin.
ENDOCRINOLOGY (HORMONES)

9.  They constitute the greatest organic material and serves as energy source in living organisms.
 Carbohydrates are polyhydroxyl aldehydes, ketones and their derivatives.
 They are classified into three (3) main groups;
 Monosaccharides with formular (CnH2nOn)n-1. They may be trioses, tetroses, pentoses and hexoses
depending on the number of carbon atoms they have. Presence of aldehyde or ketone groups divides them
into aldoses or ketones e.g glucose.
 Oligosaccharides with formular Cn(H2O) are products of condensation of two or more monosaccharides
e.g sucrose and raffinose.
 Polysaccharides with formular (C6H10O5)n and they are classified as homopolysaccharides or
heteropolysaccharides depending on the presence of same monosaccharides or more than one simple
sugar e.g cellulose and glucurunic acid.
CARBOHYDRATES

10.  Galactosemias due to Galatokinase deficiency
 Diabetes due to insulin deficiency
 Glycogen storage increases due to glucagon deficiency
 Fructose intolerance due to Fructokinase deficiency
DISEASES OF CARBOHYDRATE
METABOLISM

11.  They are high molecular weight mixed polymers of alpha-amino acids joined together by
peptide bond (CO-NH).
 The number and sequence of arrangement of amino acids, and the 3-dimensional structure
of each protein are responsible for its biological activity.
 Based on their composition and solubility, they are classified as;
 Simple proteins e.g albumins, globulins, glutelins, prolamines and scelroproteins.
 Conjugated proteins e.g nucleoproteins, phosphoproteins, glycoproteins, porphyrinoproteins,
lipoproteins, flavoproteins and metalloproteins.
 Derived proteins which may be primary derived proteins e.g myosan or secondary derived proteins
e.g peptones
PROTEINS

12.  They are heterogeneous group of oily or greasy organic
compounds which are relatively insoluble in water but
soluble in organic solvents.
 They are classified as;
 Simple lipids e.g fatty acids, triglycerides and waxes
 Compound lipids e.g phospholipids, glycolipids and lipoproteins
 Derived lipids e.g steroids
LIPIDS

13.  Steatorrhoea due to pancreatic lipase deficiency.
 Obesity due to accumulation of excess body fat.
 Lipidosis, which is an abnormal presence of lipoproteins in blood
or specific tissues.
 Hyperlipidaemia due to increased plasma cholesterol or
triglycerides caused by inherent genetic defects
DISEASES OF LIPID METABOLISM

14.  Minerals are inorganic substances and are critical part of human tissues. Essential
Macrominerals include; iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium,
copper, iodine, manganese, zinc, selenium, molybdenum and chromium.
 Essential trace minerals occur in tiny amount or traces and they include cobalt,
iodine, molybdenum, chromium, selenium, manganese, and fluorine.
 Deficiency in these nutrients can lead to ill-health conditions such as anaemia,
muscle spasm, rickets, Addison's disease, cardiac arrest, heart spasm, skin sores,
goitre, ataxia, stretch marks, dandruff & premature aging, arteriosclerosis & heart
disease.
MINERALOGY

15. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR ONCE MORE