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
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Carbon
Nitrogen

PERCENTAGE
63
25.2
9.5
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 ThreeDimensional 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