BCM EXAM NOTES
CHAPTER 1.3
BIOCHEMISTRY IS THE CHEMISTRY OF LIVING MATTER
Living matter is characterised by:
‐ A high degree of complexity and organisation
‐ The extraction, transformation, and systematic use of energy to create and maintain
structures and to do work
‐ The interactions of individual components being dynamic and co-ordinated
The ability to sense and respond to changes in surroundings
A capacity for fairly precise self-replication while allowing enough change for evolution
CELL: THE UNIVERSAL BUILDING BLOCK
‐ Living organisms are made of cells
‐ The simplest living organisms are unicellular (single-celled)
‐ Larger organisms are multicellular (many-celled), with different functions for different cells
‐ Cells have some common features but can contain unique components for different
organism
LIVING SYSTEMS EXTRACT ENERGY
‐ From sunlight
• Plants
• Green bacteria
• Cyanobacteria
‐ From fuels
• Animals
• Most bacteria
‐ Energy input is needed in order maintain life
, CIS VS. TRANS
ENANTIOMERS AND DIASTEREOMERS
, INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BIOMOLECULES ARE SPECIFIC
‐ Macromolecules fold into 3D structures with unique binding pockets
‐ Only certain molecules fit in well and can bind
‐ Binding of chiral biomolecules is stereospecific
, ORGANISMS PERFORM ENERGY TRANSDUCTIONS TO ACCOMPLISH WORK TO
STAY ALIVE
‐ Living organisms exist in a dynamic steady state and are never at equilibrium with their
surroundings
‐ Energy coupling allows living organisms to transform matter into energy
‐ Biological catalysts reduce energy requirement for reactions while offering specificity
‐ As the entropy of the universe increase, creating and maintaining order requires work and
energy
HOW TO SPEED REACTIONS UP
‐ Higher temperatures
• Stability of macromolecules is limiting
‐ Higher concentration of reactants
• Costly, as more valuable starting material is needed
‐ Changing the reaction by coupling to a fast one
• Universally used by living organisms
‐ Lower activation barrier by catalysis
• Universally used by living organisms
CHAPTER 1.3
BIOCHEMISTRY IS THE CHEMISTRY OF LIVING MATTER
Living matter is characterised by:
‐ A high degree of complexity and organisation
‐ The extraction, transformation, and systematic use of energy to create and maintain
structures and to do work
‐ The interactions of individual components being dynamic and co-ordinated
The ability to sense and respond to changes in surroundings
A capacity for fairly precise self-replication while allowing enough change for evolution
CELL: THE UNIVERSAL BUILDING BLOCK
‐ Living organisms are made of cells
‐ The simplest living organisms are unicellular (single-celled)
‐ Larger organisms are multicellular (many-celled), with different functions for different cells
‐ Cells have some common features but can contain unique components for different
organism
LIVING SYSTEMS EXTRACT ENERGY
‐ From sunlight
• Plants
• Green bacteria
• Cyanobacteria
‐ From fuels
• Animals
• Most bacteria
‐ Energy input is needed in order maintain life
, CIS VS. TRANS
ENANTIOMERS AND DIASTEREOMERS
, INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BIOMOLECULES ARE SPECIFIC
‐ Macromolecules fold into 3D structures with unique binding pockets
‐ Only certain molecules fit in well and can bind
‐ Binding of chiral biomolecules is stereospecific
, ORGANISMS PERFORM ENERGY TRANSDUCTIONS TO ACCOMPLISH WORK TO
STAY ALIVE
‐ Living organisms exist in a dynamic steady state and are never at equilibrium with their
surroundings
‐ Energy coupling allows living organisms to transform matter into energy
‐ Biological catalysts reduce energy requirement for reactions while offering specificity
‐ As the entropy of the universe increase, creating and maintaining order requires work and
energy
HOW TO SPEED REACTIONS UP
‐ Higher temperatures
• Stability of macromolecules is limiting
‐ Higher concentration of reactants
• Costly, as more valuable starting material is needed
‐ Changing the reaction by coupling to a fast one
• Universally used by living organisms
‐ Lower activation barrier by catalysis
• Universally used by living organisms
