Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a branch of science that deals with the structure, composition, and metabolism of biomolecules found in different living organisms.

  • Biochemistry is also termed ‘biological chemistry’ as it deals with the chemistry of life that utilizes techniques from analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry.
  • Metabolic processes in living beings are composed of catabolic and anabolic processes. Both of these processes involve metabolic reactions involving biochemical compounds.
  • Biochemistry is also used in techniques that help to understand the interactions, metabolism, and functions of biomolecules.
  • Important biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, nucleic acid, vitamins, etc. are essential structural and physiological components of living organisms.
  • The study of the biochemical composition of living beings is important as it helps to understand the molecular mechanisms of various biochemical phenomena like respiration, photosynthesis, fermentation, etc.
  • The findings of these studies, in turn, can be applied in industries, nutrition, medicine, and agriculture for different purposes.
  • The rate of biochemical reactions, enzymes, and the concentration of substrates and products give essential information about the organism.
  • Biochemical reactions form the basis of biochemical testing that is used for the identification and differentiation of microorganisms into different groups.
  • Results of studies involving different biochemical tests can be applied for the production of pharmaceutical products that selectively inhibit certain metabolic processes.
  • Techniques in biochemistry have been increasingly combined with techniques from other fields like agriculture, genetic, molecular biology, and biophysics.
  • Biochemistry also allows the understanding of nutritional requirements for different living organisms.
  • Biochemical compounds have been increasingly used even for the diagnosis of different diseases like diabetes.
  • The determination of the genetic composition of living beings is also a part of biochemistry which helps in genetic studies and diagnosis of genetic diseases.
  • Biochemical analysis of different biomolecules assists in the study relating to the origin and evolution of living beings.
  • An understanding of different biochemical processes helps to understand the complexity of different groups of living beings and their relationship with one another.

Purine Synthesis

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Purine Synthesis

There are two pathways of synthesis of purine nucleotides: De Novo synthesis pathway, and Salvage pathway. The De novo synthesis of Purine The de novo synthesis of purine nucleotide means … Read more

Cholesterol structure and synthesis

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Cholesterol Synthesis

Cholesterol Structure Figure: Cholesterol Structure Although cholesterol is synthesized in most tissues of the body where it serves as a component of cell membranes, it is produced mainly in the … Read more

Nucleic Acids- Nucleosides and Nucleotides

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Nucleosides and Nucleotides

Nucleotide is any member of the class of organic compounds in which the molecular structure comprises a nitrogen-containing unit (base) linked to a sugar and a phosphate group.  They are monomeric units of nucleic … Read more