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.

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

January 4, 2020August 12, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

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 is anabolic rather than catabolic. It is an important pathway that generates precursors for nucleotide synthesis andis especially important in red blood cells (erythrocytes). Location Cytoplasm of cells of the liver, adrenal …

Urea Cycle- Enzymes and Steps

January 14, 2020August 11, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Urea Cycle- Enzymes and Steps The urea cycle is the metabolic pathway that transforms nitrogen to urea for excretion from the body. Nitrogenous excretory products are removed from the body mainly in the urine. Ammonia, which is very toxic in humans, is converted to urea, which is nontoxic, very soluble, and readily excreted by the kidneys. The urea excreted each …

Lipids- definition, properties, structure, types, examples, functions

May 16, 2020August 10, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Lipids- Properties, Structure, Classification and Functions

Lipids definition Lipids are a heterogeneous group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water and soluble in non-polar organic solvents. They naturally occur in most plants, animals, microorganisms and are used as cell membrane components, energy storage molecules, insulation, and hormones. Properties of Lipids Lipids may be either liquids or non-crystalline solids at room temperature. Pure fats and oils …

Gluconeogenesis- Steps, Reactions and Significance

January 4, 2020August 9, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Gluconeogenesis- Steps, Reactions and Significance Gluconeogenesis is the production of glucose from non-sugar precursors. Gluconeogenesis, mainly occurs in the liver, and involves the synthesis of glucose from compounds that are not carbohydrates. When a cell is growing on a hexose such as glucose, and obtaining glucose for polysaccharide synthesis, there is no problem. But when the cell is growing on …

Amino Acids- Properties, Structure, Classification and Functions

January 12, 2020August 9, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Amino acids constitute a group of neutral products clearly distinguished from other natural compounds chemically, mainly because of their ampholytic properties, and biochemically, mainly because of their role as protein constituents. An amino acid is a carboxylic acid-containing an aliphatic primary amino group in the α position to the carboxyl group and with a characteristic stereochemistry. Proteins are biosynthesized from …

Nucleic Acids- Nucleosides and Nucleotides

January 12, 2020August 8, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Nucleic Acids- 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 acids and also serve as sources of chemical energy (ATP, GTP), participate in cellular signalling (cAMP, cGMP) and function as important cofactors of enzymatic reactions …

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)- Components and Steps

June 8, 2020August 7, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

The NADH and FADH2 formed in glycolysis, TCA cycle and fatty acid oxidation are energy-rich molecules because they contain a pair of electrons that have high transfer potential. ATP is generated as a result of the energy produced when electrons from NADH and FADH2 are passed to molecular oxygen by a series of electron carriers, collectively known as the electron …

TCA Cycle (Citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle)

January 4, 2020August 7, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

TCA Cycle (Citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle) The tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), also known as the citric acid cycle or the Krebs cycle, is a major energy-producing pathway in living bodies. Cells obtain ATP from breakdown of glucose in the absence of oxygen as in glycolysis. However, most organisms normally are aerobic and oxidize their organic fuels completely …

Proteins- Properties, Structure, Classification and Functions

January 9, 2020August 6, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

Proteins- Properties, Structure, Classification and Functions Proteins are the most abundant biological macromolecules, occurring in all cells. It is also the most versatile organic molecule of the living systems and occur in great variety; thousands of different kinds, ranging in size from relatively small peptides to large polymers. Proteins are the polymers of amino acids covalently linked by the peptide …

Carbohydrates- definition, structure, types, examples, functions

February 24, 2020August 5, 2018 by Sagar Aryal

What are carbohydrates? The carbohydrates are a group of naturally occurring carbonyl compounds (aldehydes or ketones) that also contain several hydroxyl groups. It may also include their derivatives which produce such compounds on hydrolysis. They are the most abundant organic molecules in nature and also referred to as “saccharides”. The carbohydrates which are soluble in water and sweet in taste …