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.

Uronic Acid Pathway

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URONIC ACID PATHWAY

Uronic acids are a class of sugar acids with both carbonyl and carboxylic acid functional groups. They are sugars in which the terminal carbon’s hydroxyl group has been oxidized to a carboxylic acid. Oxidation of the terminal aldehyde instead … Read more

Oxidative Phosphorylation

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Oxidative Phosphorylation and ETC

The NADH and FADH2, formed during glycolysis, β-oxidation of fatty acids and the TCA cycle, give up their electrons to reduce molecular O2 to H2O. Electron transfer occurs through a … Read more

Beta-oxidation of Fatty Acid

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Beta-oxidation of Fatty Acid

Beta-oxidation is the catabolic process by which fatty acid molecules are broken down in the cytosol in prokaryotes and in the mitochondria in eukaryotes to generate acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle while NADH and FADH2, which are co-enzymes, are used in … Read more

Enzyme Inhibition

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Enzymes are the biological macromolecules, also called as biological catalysts, which speed up the rate of biochemical reactions without undergoing any change. It is a highly selective catalyst that greatly accelerates … Read more

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

The Wobble Hypothesis

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The Wobble Hypothesis

The Wobble Hypothesis The wobble hypothesis states that the base at 5′ end of the anticodon is not spatially confined as the other two bases allowing it to form hydrogen … Read more

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

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Pentose Phosphate Pathway

The pentose phosphate pathway is a metabolic pathway parallel to glycolysis which generates NADPH and pentoses (5-carbon sugars) as well as ribose 5-phosphate. The pentose phosphate pathway is also called as the phosphogluconate pathway or hexose monophosphate shunt. While it involves oxidation of glucose, its primary role … Read more