Humboldt State University ® Department of Chemistry

Richard A. Paselk

Chem 438	Introductory Biochemistry	Spring 2007
Lecture Notes: 17 January	© R. Paselk 2006
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Introduction

Syllabus

Tentative Schedule

Who am I?

• Education in Biophysics (NMR of Proteins etc in Grad Sch)
• Current favorite biochem topics are metabolism and its control, protein folding, genesis and fate of cell components, and precambrian life.
• Also teach Biochemical Toxicology; Chemical Instrumentation and all intro Chem courses
• Interests in history of science and technology, particularly scientific instrumentation and apparatus (Museum in Library, office and on Web).

How to study:

Notes are key-nearly everything you will need to know I will cover in lecture. So how can you get the most out of your notes?

Don't rely on/be seduced by on-line notes.

Discussion: Look at Discussion page on internet for weekly topics/assignments. Note info in Syllabus.

Weekly Review on web: Look at Review page on internet for weekly topics

Course intent:

• Black box biochemistry-describe system, but very little about how we got to know what we know.
• Life at the molecular level.

You will be expected to do some synthesis and problem solving in doing this course.

Biochemistry focuses on a limited range of areas within the manifestation of life, but as we shall see this range is still vast:

1. The chemical properties and 3-D structures of biomolecules.
2. The interactions of biomolecules with each other and with inorganic molecules and ions.
3. The synthesis and degradation of substances by organisms.
4. Energy use and storage by organisms.
5. The organization and regulation of biochemical systems.
6. The molecular mechanisms of the storage, transmission and expression of biological information.

In this course I will focus on these issues in eukaryotes, specifically humans, because I want you to understand a functional system with all of the regulation etc. it requires. We will look at eukaryotes because they involve intracellular compartmentation and humans because I want a system with multiple intercommunicating organs and cell types, and because the human system is probably the best understood eukaryote system.

We will largely ignore biological information (#6 above) since most of you will cover that in your Biology courses, particularly genetics.

The Elements of Life

First, we will start with the basic requirements of an idealized, simplest life form and ask why life should use the particular atoms and molecules we see dominating in living organisms.

The following observations may be made regarding the elements of life:

Life is largely a phenomena of hydrogen and the second period of the Periodic Table. That is, the major component elements (red) in all known organisms are from these periods. Why these four elements?

• First, we might observe that H, O, N, and C are the smallest elements capable of forming 1, 2, 3, and 4 bonds respectively. Smallest is important because that means they can form the strongest most stable covalent bonds. So these atoms are going to be capable of forming some of the most stable molecules, an important consideration for something that needs to grow and reproduce in a hostile environment.
  • C is particlarly noteworthy because it forms strong, stable bonds with itself. As a result it can form the backbone of large chain and branched structures, a unique charecter among the elements.
• Second, C, N, and O are also the only elements capable of forming strong multiple bonds (carbon and nitrogen can form triple bonds, all three can form double bonds).

Pathway Diagrams

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Lecture Notes

Last modified 17 January 2007