Biochemistry Fundamentals and Enzymes

📋 Course Outline

1. Biomolecules
2. Protein Structure
3. Enzyme Function
4. Enzyme Kinetics
5. Enzyme Regulation
6. Metabolic Pathways
7. Catabolic Pathways
8. Anabolic Pathways
9. ATP Energy Currency
10. Metabolic Disorders

📖 1. Biomolecules

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Biomolecules: Organic molecules essential for life, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, that perform structural, enzymatic, and regulatory functions in cells.

• Amino Acids: Organic compounds with an amino group (-NH₂) and a carboxyl group (-COOH); building blocks of proteins. There are 20 standard amino acids, classified as essential (must be obtained from diet) or non-essential.

• Enzymes: Biological catalysts, predominantly proteins, that accelerate chemical reactions by lowering activation energy without being consumed. They exhibit specificity for substrates and are regulated via various mechanisms.

• ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): The primary energy currency of the cell, consisting of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups. Energy is released upon hydrolysis of high-energy phosphate bonds to power cellular processes.

• Metabolic Pathways: Series of interconnected chemical reactions within a cell, categorized into catabolic (breakdown) and anabolic (biosynthetic) pathways, which maintain energy flow and molecular synthesis.