Biochemistry key topics

Biochemistry the chemistry of life, a bridge between biology and chemistry that studies how complex chemical reactions give rise to life. It is a hybrid branch of chemistry which specialises in the chemical processes in living organisms. This article only discusses terrestrial biochemistry (carbon- and water-based), as all the life forms we know are on Earth. Since life forms alive today are believed to have descended from the same common ancestor, they naturally have similar biochemistries, even for matters which would appear to be e ...

Including:

• Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry
• Biochemistry - Carbohydrates
• Biochemistry - Proteins
• Biochemistry - Lipids
• Biochemistry - Nucleic acids
• Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia - Biochemistry

The function of carbohydrates includes energy storage and providing structure. Sugars are carbohydrates, although there are carbohydrates that are not sugars. There are more carbohydrates on Earth than any other type of biomolecule. The simplest type of carbohydrate is a monosaccharide, which among other properties contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio 1:2:1 (generalized formula CnH2nOn, where n is at least 3). Glucose, one of the most important carboyhydrate ...

See also:

Biochemistry, Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry, Biochemistry - Carbohydrates, Biochemistry - Proteins, Biochemistry - Lipids, Biochemistry - Nucleic acids, Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia II - Biochemistry - Carbohydrates

The term lipid comprises a diverse range of molecules and to some extent is a catchall for relatively water-insoluble or nonpolar compounds of biological origin, including waxes, fatty acids, fatty-acid derived phospholipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids and terpenoids, such as retinoids and steroids. Some lipids are linear aliphatic molecules, while others have ring structures. Some are aromatic, while others are not. Some are flexible, while others are rigid. Most lipids have some polar character in addition to being largely nonpolar. ...

See also:

Biochemistry, Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry, Biochemistry - Carbohydrates, Biochemistry - Proteins, Biochemistry - Lipids, Biochemistry - Nucleic acids, Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia II - Biochemistry - Lipids

A nucleic acid is a complex, high-molecular-weight biochemical macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains that convey genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are found in all living cells and viruses. Nucleic acid, so called because of its prevalence in cellular nuclei, is the generic name of family of biopolymers. The monomers are called nucleotides, and each consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (either a pu ...

See also:

Biochemistry, Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry, Biochemistry - Carbohydrates, Biochemistry - Proteins, Biochemistry - Lipids, Biochemistry - Nucleic acids, Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia II - Biochemistry - Nucleic acids

Like carbohydrates, some proteins perform largely structural roles. For instance, movements of the proteins actin and myosin ultimately are responsible for the contraction of skeletal muscle. One property many proteins have is that they specifically bind to a certain molecule or class of molecules—they may be extremely selective in what they bind. Antibodies are an example of proteins that attach to one specific type of molecule. In fact, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which uses antibodies, is currently one of the m ...

See also:

Biochemistry, Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry, Biochemistry - Carbohydrates, Biochemistry - Proteins, Biochemistry - Lipids, Biochemistry - Nucleic acids, Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia II - Biochemistry - Proteins

Originally, it was generally believed that life was not subject to the laws of science the way nonlife was. It was thought that only living beings could produce the molecules of life (from other, previously existing biomolecules). Then, in 1828, Friedrich Wöhler published a paper about the synthesis of urea, proving that organic compounds can be created artificially. The dawn of biochemistry may have been the discovery of the first enzyme, diastase, in 1833 by Anselme Payen. It is generally accepted that the term biochemistry was coi ...

See also:

Biochemistry, Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry, Biochemistry - Carbohydrates, Biochemistry - Proteins, Biochemistry - Lipids, Biochemistry - Nucleic acids, Biochemistry - Relationship to other molecular-scale biological sciences

Read more here: » Biochemistry: Encyclopedia II - Biochemistry - Development of biochemistry