1. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D. 1 CHMI 2227E Biochemistry I Introduction

2. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.2 What is Biochemistry? Biochemistry is a science which aims at understanding the molecular basis of life; The biochemist studies the structure and function of several types of molecules: Importantly, these molecules are studied in the context of a living organism: viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, plants, animals.  Proteins  DNA  Fats  Sugars  Vitamins  Hormones  Minerals  And many others….

3. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.3 What is Biochemistry?  Chemistry  Genetics  Microbiology  Molecular biology  Genetic Engineering  Biotechnology  Cell biology  Physiology Biochemistry is NOT chemistry. Biochemistry is a multidisciplinary science; The biochemist needs a solid background in several sciences:

4. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.4 What do biochemists do? Basic Science:  Understand the molecular basis of life (e.g. growth, aging, death); Biomedicine:  Study the causes of diseases  Discover new cures for known diseases (e.g. stem cells) Applied science:  Modification of living organisms for industrial purposes Cells: production of vaccines Bacteria: bioremediation – cleaning the environment with bugs! Farm animals: drug factories

5. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.5 Example 1 Myostatin deficiency and muscular development Normal mouseMighty mouse

6. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.6 Example 2 Leptin deficiency and obesity 7 FEBRUARY 2003 VOL 299 SCIENCE Boy with an inherited deficiency in the gene encoding leptin -Top: at age 3 -Bottom: same boy, at age 8, after years of treatment with leptin

7. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.7 Example 3: Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Accelerated aging disease; Affects 1 in 8 million newborns (100 cases identified since 1880’s); Lifespan: rarely above 16 years old; Kids typically age 6 to 8 times faster than usual; Caused by one mutation affecting one protein important for cell division. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/seth/190915_progeriaweek.asp

8. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.8 Ultrastructure of life - the AIDS virus Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins Sugars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:800px-HIV_Viron.png

9. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.9 Ultrastructure of life - A bacteria Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins Sugars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Prokaryote_cell_diagram.svg

10. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.10 Ultrastructure of life - A mammalian cell 1- Nucleolus  Synthesis of ribosomes 2- Nucleus  Contains DNA  Site of DNA and RNA synthesis 3- Ribosome  Contains RNA and proteins  Site of protein sythesis 4 –secretory vesicle  Transport 5- rough endoplasmic reticulum  Cellular highway 6- Golgi appatarus  Cellular highway  Sugarland! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Biological_cell.svg

11. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.11 Ultrastructure of life - A mammalian cell 7- Cytoskeleton  Scaffold 8- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum  Cellular highway 9- Mitochondria  Powerhouse 10 –Vacuole  Storage 11- Cytoplasm  Cellular Jello 12 – Lysosome  Digestive organ of the cell 13 – Centriole  Makes flagella/cilia  Required during cell division http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Biological_cell.svg

12. CHMI 2227 - E.R. Gauthier, Ph.D.12 http://probes.invitrogen.com/servlets/photo?fileid=g001835&company=probes Red: mitochondria Blue: Nucleus Green: cytoskeleton