Biochemistry Exam 1 Study Guide
Biochemistry Lecture Exam 1 Study Guide
Chapter 1: Biochemistry: An Introduction
I. Introduction
a. Biochemistry: the study of molecules and chemical reactions of life
b. Divided into 3 principal areas:
1. Structural chemistry of components of living matter & relationship of biological function to chemical structure
2. Metabolism – total chem reactions that occur in living matter; building & breaking down of molecules
3. Chemistry of processes & substances that store & transmit biological info
Where do you get info to build molecules & where do you store the info when breaking it down
How is it changed, how is the change affecting it? Mutation
c. Central principles
1. Cells – highly organized basic structural units of living things; requires constant source of energy
2. Living processes consist of thousands of chem reactions that must be precisely regulated & integrated
3. Certain fundamental reactions pathways are found in all organisms
4. All orgs use same types of molecules: carbs, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
5. Instructions for growth, development, and reproduction are encoded in each organisms nucleic acids
Have to know how cells are regulated and where this info is coming from
Why/how energy is made or used up – always tracking that
II. Cells
a. Prokaryotic cells
Small & structurally simple
Bounded by cell wall & plasma membrane
No nucleus or other organelles
Circular DNA = chromosome in region called nucleoid
May contain addition small circular DNA = plasmids
b. Prokaryotic cell structures & function
1. Cell wall: primary source of support; maintains shape
2. Plasma membrane: phospholipid bilayer, selective permeable barrier; receptor proteins detecting nutrients & toxins; nutrient uptake and waste disposal; photosynthesis & respiration
3. Chromosome – attached to PM; DNA
4. Plasmids: biochemical advantage to cell
5. Pilli & flagella: external appendages; attachment & transfer info; movement
c. Eukaryotic
Chapter 1: Biochemistry: An Introduction
I. Introduction
a. Biochemistry: the study of molecules and chemical reactions of life
b. Divided into 3 principal areas:
1. Structural chemistry of components of living matter & relationship of biological function to chemical structure
2. Metabolism – total chem reactions that occur in living matter; building & breaking down of molecules
3. Chemistry of processes & substances that store & transmit biological info
Where do you get info to build molecules & where do you store the info when breaking it down
How is it changed, how is the change affecting it? Mutation
c. Central principles
1. Cells – highly organized basic structural units of living things; requires constant source of energy
2. Living processes consist of thousands of chem reactions that must be precisely regulated & integrated
3. Certain fundamental reactions pathways are found in all organisms
4. All orgs use same types of molecules: carbs, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
5. Instructions for growth, development, and reproduction are encoded in each organisms nucleic acids
Have to know how cells are regulated and where this info is coming from
Why/how energy is made or used up – always tracking that
II. Cells
a. Prokaryotic cells
Small & structurally simple
Bounded by cell wall & plasma membrane
No nucleus or other organelles
Circular DNA = chromosome in region called nucleoid
May contain addition small circular DNA = plasmids
b. Prokaryotic cell structures & function
1. Cell wall: primary source of support; maintains shape
2. Plasma membrane: phospholipid bilayer, selective permeable barrier; receptor proteins detecting nutrients & toxins; nutrient uptake and waste disposal; photosynthesis & respiration
3. Chromosome – attached to PM; DNA
4. Plasmids: biochemical advantage to cell
5. Pilli & flagella: external appendages; attachment & transfer info; movement
c. Eukaryotic