Three major themes from the course are structure, function, and enzymes.
This course covered the structure of many different molecules. We learned differences in structures of the
amino acids, peptides, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, etc. Proteins alone have up to four different
types of structural components. There can be different forms of molecules,
molecules that have the same composition but are arranged differently. For example left-handed amino acids are the
active form found in eukaryotes. If a
right handed amino acid was found it would not be able to play its role. We learned the difference types of bonds,
such as polar bonds, covalent bonds, peptide bonds, hydrogen bonds. The way things are bonded impacts what they
do, or what they are capable of doing.
Function of the molecules and how they work as a team to keep organism
alive. Certain molecules may attract
other molecules needed. Other molecules
proofread and repair damaged cells. For
example in Replication there are five different types of polymerase each with
their own specific function. For example
in prokaryotes, polymerase I is involved in synthesis, proofreading, repair,
and removal of RNA primers. While pol
III is the main polymerizing enzyme. Each
molecule found in organisms has a specific purpose.
Enzymes are important in aiding life processes that occur. They help to speed up the reaction and can be
inhibited or activated, depending on what surroundings are present. For example phosphofructokinase, an enzyme in
glycolysis is activated by AMP while it is inhibited by ATP. There are different classes of enzymes such
as kinases or isomerases. Each class of
enzyme aids a different type of reaction.
For example kinase reactions aid phosphorylations.
These themes are connected because structure determines function, and
enzymes aid in function. A change in structure changes the task of the
molecule. Without the presence of a
needed enzyme, a reaction may not occur, and the molecule will not perform its
purpose. All three themes are important
in biochemistry, and were learned in other science courses. This course has provided me with the
knowledge to make these connections between the themes. Biochemistry had brought all these themes
together to give a better presentation of the overall picture.
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