Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

CHAPTER 1
Chemistry is the Logic of
Biological Phenomena
to accompany
Biochemistry, 2/e
by
Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham

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Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Outline
1.1 Distinctive Properties of Living
Systems
1.2 Biomolecules: Molecules of Life
1.3 Biomolecular Hierarchy
1.4 Properties of Biomolecules
1.5 Organization and Structure of Cells
1.6 Viruses as Cell Parasites
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

On Life and Chemistry...

Living things are composed of lifeless

molecules (Albert Lehninger)

Chemistry is the logic of biological

phenomena (Garrett and Grisham)
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.1 Distinctive Properties of

Living Systems
Organisms are complicated and highly
organized
Biological structures serve functional
purposes
Living systems are actively engaged in
energy transformations
Living systems have a remarkable
capacity for self-replication
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The

Molecules of Life
H, O, C and N make up 99+% of atoms in the
human body

ELEMENT PERCENTAGE
Oxygen 63
Hydrogen 25.2
Carbon 9.5
Nitrogen 1.4
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The

Molecules of Life
What property unites H, O, C and N and
renders these atoms so appropriate to
the chemistry of life?

Answer: Their ability to form covalent

bonds by electron-pair sharing.
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.2 Biomolecules: The

Molecules of Life
What are the bond energies of covalent
bonds?
Bond Energy kJ/mol
H-H 436
C-H 414
C-C 343
C-O 351
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.3 A Biomolecular Hierarchy

Simple Molecules are the Units for
Building Complex Structures
Metabolites and Macromolecules
Organelles
Membranes
The Unit of Life is the Cell
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.4 Properties of Biomolecules Reflect

Their Fitness to the Living Condition
Macromolecules and Their Building
Blocks Have a Sense or Directionality
Macromolecules are Informational
Biomolecules Have Characteristic
Three-Dimensional Architecture
Weak Forces Maintain Biological
Structure and Determine Biomolecular
Interactions
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

1.4 Properties of
Biomolecules Reflect Their
Fitness to the Living Condition
Important numbers!
van der Waals: 0.4-4.0 kJ/mole
Hydrogen bonds: 12-30 kJ/mole
Ionic bonds: 20 kJ/mole
Hydrophobic interactions: <40 kJ/mole
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Two Important Points About

Weak Forces

Biomolecular Recognition is Mediated

by Weak Chemical Forces

Weak Forces Restrict Organisms to a

Narrow Range of Environmental
Conditions
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham

Organization and Structure of

Cells
Prokaryotic cells
A single (plasma) membrane
no nucleus or organelles
Eukaryotic cells
much larger in size than prokaryotes
103-104 times larger!
Nucleus plus many organelles
ER, Golgi, mitochondria, etc.
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham
Biochemistry 2/e - Garrett & Grisham