Transcript University of Houston BCHS 3304: General Biochemistry I, Section 07553 Spring 2003 1:00-2:30 PM Mon./Wed.

University of Houston
BCHS 3304: General Biochemistry I, Section 07553
Spring 2003 1:00-2:30 PM Mon./Wed. AH 101
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Instructor:
Glen B. Legge, Ph.D., Cambridge UK
Phone: 713-743-8380
Fax: 713-743-2636
E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours:
Mon. and Wed. (2:30-4:00 PM) or by appointment
353 SR2 (Science and Research Building 2)
Research Interests:
Molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion, using primarily multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Course Outline
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3 Exams and a Comprehensive Final (See Syllabus)
Tentatively, grades will be 15 % As, 20 % Bs, 35 % Cs, 25 % Ds, 5 % Fs
Four Homeworks-to be Handed in!!! I will grade it.
Homework counts 10% of your grade.
The Exams are based on the book, class notes, and homework.
Those who do the homework honestly, will earn the better grades.
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I encourage group homework and study sections. But each person in a
group must pull their own weight, copied answers will be considered
dishonest. Copying the homework and not fully participating, cheats
yourself.
I can not return homework, so photocopy it for your records.
You will need to know the material! You can not just be familiar with it.
You will need to study about 2-3 hours a day!
This is a PROFESSIONAL COURSE
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The lecture notes and solutions to the
homework will be on the Web!!
http://www.uh.edu/sibs/faculty/glegge
Remember the address is case sensitive.
These notes are not a substitute for class participation. These
notes will be (even in an early form) will be posted before the
lectures. They are intended to make you pay attention in class,
take notes with you. Don’t sit in class and just copy notes!!
I strongly suggest you read the assigned material
before the lecture.
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NOTE: Cell Biology and Biochemistry Labs
will meet the first week of classes.
Foundations of Biochemistry
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•Universe is 15-20 billion years old –BIG BANG
•Initially H2 was made then condensed to He
Stars formed-Stars died, Super novas exploded creating higher atomic
number elements. Over the billions of years under the right conditions
complex molecules formed. Complicated chemical reactions started
occurring - intermolecular interactions and carbon based chemistry
developed.
From this milieu sprang the property of
LIFE
Biochemistry is the study of this process on a chemical level
The Physical Laws of Life
•Living organisms operate within the same physical laws that apply to
physics and chemistry:
•Conservation of Mass, Energy
•Laws of Thermodynamics
•Laws of Chemical Kinetics
•Principles of Chemical Reactions
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Molecular Logic of Life
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These physical laws describe several axioms that make up the Molecular
Logic of Life. These axioms define:
•Energy converted to work
•Catalytic chemical transformations
•Assembly of molecules with great complexity from simple subunits.
•Complex molecules combine to form supra molecular components,
organelles and finally assemble into a cell.
•Store and pass on instructions for the assembly of all future generations
from simple non-living precursors
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Common Functional Groups
•Arise from simple organic compounds
Condensation reactions
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•Chemical Evolution, simple molecules condense to form more complex
forms (polymers)
Replication through complementarity
• More complex molecules
increases chemical
versatility
• Specific pairing of
functional groups gives rise
to complementarity
• Complementarity makes it
possible for
macromolecules to replicate
• Over time natural selection
favored molecules that
made accurate copies of
themselves
•Cell  multi cell, varied and diverse and
evolutionary processes lead to diversity but life has
many common themes and processes.
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Organic compounds found in living organisms are a product of
Biological Activity
Biomolecules are selected by evolution- the fit are kept, the
not fit are discarded.
The more fit remain and continue to evolve.
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Biomolecules have the same bonds, bond lengths,
strength, 3D structures and chemical reactivities as
inanimate matter!
The vast complexity of the molecules, no matter how they interact,
follow the physical laws of nature.
Therefore Physics and Chemistry must be able to
completely define life!!!
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From 3D structure to antibody
interaction, hormone function to
replication and reproduction i.e..
from Birth-Death.
Life is defined within the
physical laws of Chemistry and
Physics
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The Essential Role of Water
•H2O is the key to understanding the behavior of
macromolecules. It is the solvent of life and all living
transformations occur in an aqueous mediaLife is thought to arise from the sea.
•Even water-insoluble compounds such as lipid
membranes derive their nature and function by their
interactions with H2O.
•Living organisms are composed of lifeless molecules
that conform to the physical laws of nature.
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However, the collective
behavior of these many
molecules and their combined
interactions, yield extraordinary
properties.