Reflecting back on the course, what are three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course? What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identified?

            Three important topics that we have covered that I have found connections with in more than one class are proteins, amino acids, and nucleic acids. Each of these three topics we covered in multiples ways over the semester and I have found at least one of these topics in each of the other sciences courses I have taken.

            Proteins are very important biochemical compounds. Each protein consists of one or more polypeptides (amino acid chain bonded together with peptide bonds) folded to a specific form to facilitate a function. Proteins are a vital part of processes in the cells of all organisms. Many proteins act as enzymes and catalyze reactions in the cell where others have structural or mechanical functions that help cells maintain their shapes. They are also important in cell signaling, immune responses, the cell cycle, in animal’s diets and throughout the process of digestion.

Generic Structure of Alpha Amino Acid
(Wikipedia)

             Amino acids are the molecular building blocks of proteins and include an amine group or a carboxylic acid group. Amino acids can be linked together in many different ways to provide a variety of proteins. There are nine standard a

mino acids that are essential to humans. This is because they can’t be created by the human body so they have to be taken in through food. These nine include Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine, and Histidine. These amino acids are important in nutrition. Amino acids are also important in fertilizers and food technology.

Nucleic Acids
(Wikipedia)

            Nucleic acids include DNA and RNA. These biological molecules are essential for life and together with proteins they make up very important macromolecules. These molecules function for encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information in all living things. It is because of nucleic acids that organisms can transfer genetic information from one generation to the next.

            Each of these three topics was covered in depth in our class allowing us to further understand their importance in life. They are also found in Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, as well as some of the Psychology classes I have taken in various ways allowing me to gain knowledge of each from different perspectives and on a number of levels.  

How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body to a friend, using your new biochemistry knowledge?

Glucose
(wikipedia)

To create energy, glucose enters the body and a phosphate attaches to the glucose molecule. This attachment in turn creates glucose-6-phophate. During this step there is a loss of energy because the phosphate that attaches comes from ATP and is converted into ADP. From here, the glucose-6-phosphate rearranges into fructose-6-phosphate and yet another phosphate attaches, causing energy loss, yielding fructose 1, 6-diphosphate. 

The new product then splits into two separate molecules, dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate rearranges into its isomer form glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (so now there are two of the same molecules). The two glyceradehyde 3-phosphates molecules then create two 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate molecules which each lose a phosphate. This yields two 3-phosphoglycerate molecules which will create 2 molecules of ATP (net of 0 ATP created). 

Glycolysis
(wikipedia)

At this point, these molecules will rearrange into two molecules of 2-phosphoglycerate then water loss will occur and they will become phosphoenolpyruvic acid molecules. They will each lose a phosphate which in turn creates 2 ATPs. The phosphoenolpyruvic acid molecules will either become Acetyl CoA, lactic acid, or ethanol and carbon dioxide. When it turns into the Acetyl CoA, the new molecules enter the Krebs Cycle where a significant amount of energy is created because they lose phosphate groups resulting in ATPs. This ATP is then stored in the muscles of the body.

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

            This past class I presented on protein synthesis and how it is involved in making memories. I had originally chosen this article because it reminded me a lot of the course work I’ve had in many of my psychology classes. In fact, I chose psychology as a second major, after biology, due to so many connections I’ve seen between the two. I had learned a lot in the past about the structure and function of neurons in the brain but this was the first time I had ever learned of  their connection to CREB in memory. Using both my previous knowledge on this material combined with the new information presented in this article I was able to more fully grasp the process of both short-term and long-term memory making.

            The topics that we have been recently covering in class including prokaryote/eukaryote replication, transcription, and then translation are all things I have seen throughout multiple science courses here at UNHM and even in my earlier education. I have found that each time I learn them I get a better grasp on the subject and the fact that each teacher approaches them differently allows for me to see these concepts and understand them in new ways. 

Find an interesting biochemistry website and put its link in this entry, and describe what is found there.

              

(chem4kids.com)

            I chose the website chem4kids.com because I thought it was exceptionally educational for the age group it is meant to reach. It presents biochemistry in the simplest sense using terminology and metaphors that are understandable to those at a younger education level. It is a website that covers all of the basics of biochemistry including metabolism, important cycles such as photosynthesis and glycolysis, and it breaks down things such as lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, DNA, and much more.

TRYPTOPHAN

(chem4kids.com)

            The website incorporates colors and helpful pictures to further push the understanding of the informational text provided. There are activities that include quizzes on each of the sections and links to other sites that cover astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. This website can definitely be helpful for more than the target age group. This website can give an educational foundation to anyone without a previous background in the sciences. 

Link:

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/bio_intro.html

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

            A lot of the information that we’ve covered so far this semester has been a review. Beginning with the first chapter where we covered things such as the structural organization of the human body from simple to complex, I can recall learning about this back in junior high science. It’s interesting to see over time how there are specific pieces of information are constantly reinforced even up until the college level.

            Many of the things that we’ve also covered so far including hydrogen and covalent bonds, dipole moments, definitions of organelles, and pH are also terms I have seen consistently throughout my education in the sciences. I’ve also related some of the information to psychology classes I’ve taken including the positive feedback mechanism that was covered with small peptide hormones because I had previously learned about positive and negative reinforcements.

            Some of this information has been helpful for my further understanding of in classes I’m also taking now such as Organic Chemistry II. It has helped me have a strong understanding of the basic foundation of things such as the breakdown of amino acids. I’m also sure that the new information that I have acquired up until this point in the semester I will connect many times in my future in medicine.  

Find a protein using PDB explorer-describe your protein, including what disease state or other real world application it has.

Glucokinase
(Wikipedia)

The protein I looked at is Glucokinase. This enzyme catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose 6-phosphate. This occurs in the cells of the liver, pancreas, gut, and brain of both invertebrates and microorganisms. The glucokinase has important role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism. It does this by acting as a sensor for glucose causing changes in metabolism in response to the lowering or heightening of glucose levels.

            When genes of this enzyme are found they are known to cause unusual forms of diabetes or hypoglycemia. Because glucokinase is the major hexokinase expressed in the liver and in control of blood glucose homeostasis it sends the sensor for insulin secretion in the pancreatic cells. Based on the role that glucokinase plays it is currently causing it to be looked at as a candidate for type 2 diabetic drugs.

            In people with type 2 diabetes they have been found to have defective regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism. Newly diagnosed patients with this type of diabetes have elevated levels where obese patients have decreases levels. However, the defect in diabetes involving changes in glucokinase has still not been confirmed.

Sources:

Targeting Hepatic Glucokinase in Type 2 Diabetes. Ed. Loranne Agius. American Diabetes Association, 24 Oct. 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. 

Glucokinase. Wikipedia, 12 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2012

What is biochemistry, and how does it differ from the fields of genetics, biology, chemistry, and molecular biology?

Biochemistry is the study including the structure, composition, and all the chemical reactions in living systems. This differs from the other fields of science because genetics is based on heredity or any type of inherited characteristics based on genes. When it comes to biology, biochemistry differs because it only includes part of what the field of biology includes. Biology is the study of all living organism including their structure, function, growth, origin, and evolution. Chemistry is the science that includes the composition, structure, and properties of molecular systems. Lastly, molecular biology is the science that includes the structure and overall function of macromolecules which are necessary for life.

Biochemistry is a combination of many different important aspect of science. It has found its importance in many different areas of our world including food science, medicine, clinical chemistry and almost any field that includes science in our world. Biochemistry allows us to break down chemical compositions and find new methods of development for a range of products. Biochemists have a difficult discipline at hand because their investigative research and techniques are so crucial to our continuous advances in science.

Sources:

Biochemistry. ACS Chemistry for Life, 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

The Free Dictionary. Farlex, 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.