UniversityofHouston

BCHS 3304: General Biochemistry I, Section 07553

Spring 2003 1:00-2:30 PM Mon./Wed. AH 101

Instructor:
Glen B. Legge, Ph.D., Cambridge UK
Phone: 713-743-8380
Fax: 713-743-2636
E-mail: glegge@uh.edu
Office hours:
Mon. and Wed. (2:30-4:00 PM) or by appointment
353 SR2 (Science and Research Building 2)
Research Interests:
Molecularmechanismsofcelladhesion,usingprimarilymulti
dimensionalnuclearmagneticresonance(NMR)spectroscopy.

Course Outline

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.

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

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. Dont sit in class and just copy notes!!

I strongly suggest you read the assigned material

before the lecture.

NOTE: Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Labs will meet the first week of classes.

Foundations of Biochemistry

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

Molecular Logic of Life

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

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.