Biomolecules

Biomolecules include both micromolecules, e.g. amino acids, nitrogenous bases, fatty acids, sugar, etc. and macromolecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.


Living organisms are made up of organic as well as inorganic substances. For analysing the organic constituents of living tissue, we mix it with CCl3COOH (Trichloroacetic acid) and make a slurry by grinding. We get two fractions:

Acid soluble fraction- Organic micromolecules (biomolecules) (mol wt. 18-800 Da) and inorganic compounds, e.g. phosphate, sulphate, etc. It mostly accounts for the cytoplasm

Acid insoluble fraction- Polymeric macromolecules (mol wt. >10 thousand Da) and also lipid (a component of the cell membrane and form water-insoluble vesicles on fragmentation)

The inorganic constituents can be estimated by analysing the ash formed after burning a tissue completely.

All the macromolecules are homo or heteropolymers of various simple compounds.

  • Protein- Polymer of amino acids
  • Carbohydrates (Polysaccharides)- Polymer of simple sugars, e.g. glucose, fructose
  • Fats- Fatty acids and glycerol
  • Nucleic acids- Nitrogenous bases, sugar and phosphate
  • Water constitutes 70-90% of cells. Proteins are 10-15%, nucleic acids are 5-7%, carbohydrates are 3%, lipids are 2% and the rest 1% are ions.
  • Amino acids, fatty acids, sugars, etc. are called primary metabolites, which take part in the physiological processes. Other than these, there are varied compounds present in the cells of plants, microbes and fungi, which are called secondary metabolites. Some of the secondary metabolites have ecological significance.
  • Secondary metabolites can be grouped under various categories:
  • Pigments (anthocyanins, carotene, etc.), drugs (curcumin, vinblastine, etc.), gum, rubber, toxins (ricin, abrin), alkaloids (codeine, morphine), essential oils, terpenoids, lectins (concanavalin A), etc.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kidney function tests

Image
  Kidney function tests  Kidney function tests are essential for assessing how well your kidneys are working.  1. Blood Tests: Serum Creatinine : Measures the level of creatinine, a waste product from muscle metabolism. Elevated levels may indicate impaired kidney function. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) : Measures the amount of nitrogen in your blood from urea, another waste product. High levels can suggest kidney issues. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) : Calculated using serum creatinine, age, sex, and race. It estimates how well your kidneys are filtering blood. An eGFR below 60 may indicate kidney disease. 2. Urine Tests: Urinalysis : A dipstick test that checks for protein, blood, glucose, and other substances. Presence of protein (proteinuria) can indicate kidney damage. 24-Hour Urine Collection : Measures the total amount of waste products excreted in urine over 24 hours. This can help assess kidney function and detect kidney stones. 3. Imaging Tests: U...
Read more

Breast cancer

Image
  Breast cancer  Breast cancer is a disease where cells in the breast tissue grow uncontrollably. It can occur in both men and women, though it’s much more common in women. Here are some key points about breast cancer: Types: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) : The most common type, starting in the milk ducts and spreading to surrounding tissue. Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) : Begins in the lobules and can also spread. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) : A non-invasive condition where abnormal cells are found in the ducts but haven't spread. Triple-negative Breast Cancer : Lacks three common receptors (estrogen, progesterone, and HER2) and can be more aggressive. Risk Factors: Gender : Women are at higher risk. Age : Risk increases with age. Family History : Genetics can play a role; BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations increase risk. Lifestyle Factors : Obesity, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity can contribute. Symptoms: A lump or mass in the breast or underarm. Cha...
Read more

Biochemistry plays in space exploration

  Biochemistry plays a critical role in space exploration by   helping to ensure the health and well-being of astronauts .   Space travel can have many negative effects on the human body, including: Bone and muscle loss Cardiovascular changes Weakened immune systems Hormonal imbalances Abnormal digestion and absorption Abnormal iron metabolism Ophthalmological issues   Biochemistry helps to develop strategies to counteract these effects. This includes:   Nutritional counter measures NASA's Nutritional & Biochemistry team develops and validates nutritional countermeasures to prevent or minimize the negative effects of spaceflight on the human body. For example, astronauts may need less iron during long-duration missions.   Understanding metabolic processes Understanding the impact of space travel on metabolic processes is vital for designing effective countermeasures.   Designing better equipment and technologies Understanding what happens...
Read more