Table Of ContentBiochemistry Explained
TThhiiss ppaaggee iinntteennttiioonnaallllyy lleefftt bbllaannkk
Biochemistry Explained
A Practical Guide to Learning Biochemistry
Thomas Milal r
University of Western Sydney, Nepean
Kingswood, Australia
Taylor & Francis
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Version Date: 20140416
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Contents
Preface
9
For the Lecturer
10
Chapter Fundamental Concepts and an Introduction to the Cell
1 11
Chapter Basic Biochemical Structures
2 15
Chapter Sugars
3 24
Chapter Amino Acids and their Functions
4 35
Chapter Peptides, Proteins and Enzymes
5 47
Chapter Complex Sugars and their Functions
6 65
Chapter Metabolism of Sugars
7 76
Chapter Metabolism of Amino Acids
8 88
Chapter The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
9 105
Chapter The Electron Transport Chain, Oxidative Phosphorylation
10
and Photosynthesis
115
Chapter Lipid Structure and Metabolism
11 126
Chapter Nucleotides and their Derivatives
12 149
Chapter The Structures and Functions of DNA and RNA
13 167
Chapter Metabolism and its Control
14 176
Chapter Cellular Communication
15 197
Index
206
TThhiiss ppaaggee iinntteennttiioonnaallllyy lleefftt bbllaannkk
To the authors Mary White and Densey Clyne, and the media personality Clive
Robertson. All critically examine themselves and the world around them, remove
facades, and reveal the fundamentals whether they be pleasing or distasteful. They
express themselves with a passion that engages their audiences and readers, and a
simplicity that appears to mask the real depth of their subjects. If my readers judge
me to have emulated these qualities in but a small way, I will be pleased.
TThhiiss ppaaggee iinntteennttiioonnaallllyy lleefftt bbllaannkk
Preface
This book approaches the learning of biochemistry There are two types of questions. The first of
type
by establishing its fundamentals and from this question actually forms part of the text and as such
standpoint complex reactions can thereby be fully the answer is provided immediately below it. This
appreciated and understood. The book is designed to allows you to think about the answer and then
be interactive (and hopefully not put you to sleep!); immediately have it available without the
questions are embedded in the text and answers lie inconvenience of looking elsewhere. To make best use
immediately below. of this type of question, it is recommended that a piece
What promoted this approach to the learning of of paper is used to cover the answers while reading the
biochemistry was an observation that as an text. This type of question is also useful during exam
undergraduate dutifully learning the structures of ATP, preparation. Once again, the answer can be covered
GTP, and sugars, I never realised their common with a blank sheet of paper and your attempt at the
DNA
ground. This led me to question at a later stage ''Why answer can be done on this piece of paper. The answer
didn't someone tell me?". Often the obvious is not can then be checked - 'look, cover, write, check'. The
stated, nor is a pathway for learning mapped. Without second type of question is numbered and the answers
establishing clear priorities, students often treat all are given at the end of the chapter. It is important to
biochemical concepts with equal importance and as note that many of the answers give additional
having no beginning or end. information and explanations, and therefore doing
Parts of the book contain information which is rote these questions and referring to the answers as you
learning material, for example, the structure of an progress through the text is essential in order to gain
alcohol. Such information needs to be learnt and maximum benefit from the text.
practised until it becomes part of your vocabulary. It Rather than a glossary, particular terminology is
is only with these basics that a logic can be built. Other explained as it appears in the text under the heading
parts of the book contain more conceptual material. nomenclature. There. are sections in the book which
Many of you will already know these concepts, but are called logic process. These sections outline a strategy
not realise their significance. for thinking in a particular manner so that learning is
Most importantly, enjoy learning this subject: enhanced. In addition to these there are boxed sections
biochemistry is fun. Learn from and laugh at your called major points. For the most part these major
mistakes; after all, you are a student and no one expects points are rather simple, but they have been selected
you to be perfect -not until the exams at least! If you as key pieces of knowledge to enhance the
do this, you will learn the most important lesson of understanding of biochemistry.
all: to have confidence in your knowledge. More complex examples of biochemical processes
Using the techniques outlined in this book, my or structures are boxed under the heading of higher
most recalcitrant student ever, who was absolutely level. These should be read by all students, and if you
determined to make learning biochemistry an are right on top of the subject, then you should have
unendurable torture (for me mainly), towards the end no difficulty learning these higher level elements. If
of the course commented: "I really hate to admit this, you are running short of study-time before an exam,
but biochemistry is really enjoyable and it has made then detailed study of these areas should be left till
understanding all of my other subjects so much easier". last.
I hope you feel the same way.
When exploring this text you will note a variety of
different structural features have been used to help
learning:
9
