Section 1 - Biochemistry Helps Us to Understand
Our World
Chapter 1 - Biochemistry and the Unity of Life
1.2 - There Are Four Major Classes of Biomolecules
4 major classes of biomolecules
● Proteins
○ Amino acids
○ Signal molecules
○ Enzymes → protein catalysts
● Nucleic Acids
○ Store + transfer information
○ Nucleotides
○ DNA & RNA
● Lipids
○ Hydrophilic & hydrophobic part
○ Signal molecules
● Carbohydrates
○ Fuel source
○ Glucose → glycogen
1.4 - Membranes Define the Cell and Carry Out Cellular Functions
● Eukaryotes → cell membrane, organelles
● Prokaryotes → no cell membrane
● Plasma membrane
○ Separates in- and outside of the cell
○ Selective permeability
● Cytoplasm
○ Inner substance
○ Cytoskeleton
■ Actin filaments, intermediate
filaments, and microtubules
● Nucleus
○ Information center → genome
● Mitochondrion
○ 2 membranes → inner and outer
○ Powerhouse of cell
● Chloroplast
○ 2 membranes
, ○ Only in plants
○ Photosynthesis
● Endoplasmic reticulum
○ Smooth (SER)
■ Processing exogenous chemicals
○ Rough (RER)
■ Ribosomes
● Synthesis of proteins
○ Golgi complex
■ Carbohydrates added to proteins
■ Proteins sorted
○ Secretory granules
■ Exocytosis → get proteins out of the cell
○ Endosome
■ Endocytosis → bring biochemicals into the cell
■ Phagocytosis
○ Lysosomes
■ Digestive enzymes
○ Plant vacuole
Chapter 2 - Water, Weak Bonds, and the Generation of Order
Out of Chaos
2.1 - Thermal Motions Power Biological Interactions
● Brownian motion
○ Movement due to random fluctuation of the energy content of the environment
→ thermal noise
○ Initiates many biochemical interactions
2.2 - Biochemical Interactions Take Place in an Aqueous Solution
● Water
○ Covalent bonds
○ Electronegative atom
○ Polar
○ O → slightly negatively charged
○ H → slightly positively charged
● Hydrogen bonds
● Nonpolar/hydrophobic → cannot dissolve in water
Our World
Chapter 1 - Biochemistry and the Unity of Life
1.2 - There Are Four Major Classes of Biomolecules
4 major classes of biomolecules
● Proteins
○ Amino acids
○ Signal molecules
○ Enzymes → protein catalysts
● Nucleic Acids
○ Store + transfer information
○ Nucleotides
○ DNA & RNA
● Lipids
○ Hydrophilic & hydrophobic part
○ Signal molecules
● Carbohydrates
○ Fuel source
○ Glucose → glycogen
1.4 - Membranes Define the Cell and Carry Out Cellular Functions
● Eukaryotes → cell membrane, organelles
● Prokaryotes → no cell membrane
● Plasma membrane
○ Separates in- and outside of the cell
○ Selective permeability
● Cytoplasm
○ Inner substance
○ Cytoskeleton
■ Actin filaments, intermediate
filaments, and microtubules
● Nucleus
○ Information center → genome
● Mitochondrion
○ 2 membranes → inner and outer
○ Powerhouse of cell
● Chloroplast
○ 2 membranes
, ○ Only in plants
○ Photosynthesis
● Endoplasmic reticulum
○ Smooth (SER)
■ Processing exogenous chemicals
○ Rough (RER)
■ Ribosomes
● Synthesis of proteins
○ Golgi complex
■ Carbohydrates added to proteins
■ Proteins sorted
○ Secretory granules
■ Exocytosis → get proteins out of the cell
○ Endosome
■ Endocytosis → bring biochemicals into the cell
■ Phagocytosis
○ Lysosomes
■ Digestive enzymes
○ Plant vacuole
Chapter 2 - Water, Weak Bonds, and the Generation of Order
Out of Chaos
2.1 - Thermal Motions Power Biological Interactions
● Brownian motion
○ Movement due to random fluctuation of the energy content of the environment
→ thermal noise
○ Initiates many biochemical interactions
2.2 - Biochemical Interactions Take Place in an Aqueous Solution
● Water
○ Covalent bonds
○ Electronegative atom
○ Polar
○ O → slightly negatively charged
○ H → slightly positively charged
● Hydrogen bonds
● Nonpolar/hydrophobic → cannot dissolve in water
