Biochemical Organic Chemistry
- It is the branch of chemistry that studies how organic molecules (carbon-based compounds) behave and react inside living organisms.
- In short, it connects organic chemistry (study of carbon compounds) with biochemistry (study of life processes).
Main Focus Areas
- Biomolecules
- Structure and function of organic molecules in the body:
- Carbohydrates (sugars)
- Proteins (made of amino acids)
- Lipids (fats, oils, steroids)
- Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
- Structure and function of organic molecules in the body:
- Metabolic Reactions
- Organic reactions happening in cells:
- Glycolysis (breakdown of glucose)
- Citric Acid Cycle (energy release)
- Fatty acid metabolism
- Amino acid transformations
- Organic reactions happening in cells:
- Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions
- How enzymes (special proteins) speed up organic reactions in mild, body-like conditions.
- Health and Medicine
- Understanding diseases caused by defects in biomolecular reactions.
- Designing drugs that target biochemical organic pathways.
Examples
- Conversion of glucose into energy (ATP).
- DNA replication (formation of new nucleic acids).
- Protein synthesis from amino acids.
- Hormone biosynthesis (like steroids from cholesterol).
In short:
Biochemical Organic Chemistry is the study of how organic chemistry principles apply to biological molecules and reactions in living organisms. It explains how life works at the molecular level.