Introduction to Biochemistry |...

Explore the fascinating world of biochemistry with our in-depth blog post on the definition, history, scope, and fields/branches of biochemistry. Whether you're a medical/healthcare professional, such as an MBBS, BS Nursing, Paramedic, Nutritionist, or Food Chemist, or simply a general reader or researcher, this blog post is designed to help you understand the subject matter and its relevance in today's world. From the origins of biochemistry and its evolution over time to the various branches and fields it encompasses, this blog post will give you a comprehensive understanding of biochemistry and its importance in the healthcare industry.    

Introduction to Biochemistry for Medical/Health Knowledge lovers, students and researchers From Health, Education, and Skills

What is Biochemistry?

Definition of Biochemistry

In simplest words, we can say that Biochemistry is the chemistry of life i.e, the chemistry of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Biochemistry takes the advantage of both, Biology and Chemistry, to study and understand the chemical structures, functions, and composition of biomolecules, such as Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA).    

Biochemists also find out how biochemicals affect and play role in life processes like respiration, digestion, reproduction, heredity, growth, metabolism, and many more. They also search out for biochemical causes of disease and in turn develop chemotherapeutic drugs for preventing such diseases to develop. In this way, biochemists provide important data to pathologists. Thus we can say that biochemistry act as the backbone of medical sciences.  

History of Biochemistry

Although Biochemistry emerged in the early 19th century, it is believed that before its appearance as a scientific discipline, Greeks showed interest in the chemical and biological composition of life. The history of Biochemistry involves searching for complex biomolecules and their metabolic pathways within the living system, as given below

• In 1833 Anselma Payne discovered the first-ever enzyme, diastase (today known as amylase).
• In 1842 Justus von Liebig presented a chemical theory of metabolism.
• In 1848, the word Biochemistry was first recorded in English.
• In the 1860s Louis Pasteur (a bacteriologist) stated that yeast and bacteria cause fermentation.
• In 1869 nucleic acid (later proved to be DNA) was isolated from pus cells.
• In 1877 E.Buchner proved that fermentation could also occur in a pressed juice of yeast, that is free from living cells.
• In 1903 Carl Newberg (along with some credit to Franz Hofmeister) introduced Biochemistry as a new scientific discipline, thus considered the father of Biochemistry. 
• In 1926 it was understood that enzymes are proteins in nature, by studying the first pure crystalline enzyme called urease. 
• In 1929 ATP (Adenosine-tri-Phosphate) was isolated from muscles.
• In 1935 it was found that Vitamin B2 was found to be an integral part of an enzyme, thus it was known that vitamins can prevent some diseases.
• In the same year i.e. in 1935 two U.S Chemists Schopenhauer and Rittenberg used radioactive isotopes to trace the path of elements and compounds in biological systems.
• In 1940 Lipmann showed that ATP is the energy currency of the cell.

Role of Liebig and Louis Pasteur in the History of Biochemistry

In the 19th century, two scientists Liebig and Louis Pasteur successfully applied chemistry to the study of biology. In his classic works in the 1840s, Liebig explained how Photosynthesis is responsible for sustaining life on planet earth. He stated that animals depend on organic compounds that are obtained from plants, thus animals are dependent on plants for their nutritional needs. Furthermore, he also explained that plants depend on animals because animals' excreta and decay are re-utilized by the plants for their successful survival. 

Liebig also gives birth to another applied science in the field of Chemistry i.e. Agricultural Chemistry by pointing out that chemical analysis of plants is essential for knowing plants' nutritional requirements that should be provided in fertilizers.

Some of the main Branches of Biochemistry | Scope and Fields of Biochemistry 

The wide scope of Biochemistry can be divided into specialized fields, so that can be studied with ease, each of these fields is known as the Branch of Biochemistry or Field of Biochemistry.

1. Cellular Biochemistry

Cellular Biochemistry is mainly concerned with studying the processes and events that occur in cells due to the addition, removal, synthesis, or decomposition of bio-elements or bio-molecules.

Cell Biologists (known as Cytologists) study all aspects of the cell, the majority of these aspects are chemical in nature. For example, a Cytologist may want to know how small units (monomers) combine to form large units (polymers), or how polymers break down in order to be get converted into monomers within the cell. Similarly, he/she may want to know how insulin lower blood glucose levels by converting it into ATP or how it is stored in the form of Glycogen (a Glucose storage form) in muscles and the liver. In order to answer these questions, he/she will have to study Cellular Biochemistry.    

Examples of Cellular Biochemistry in action

• Glycolysis (breakdown of Glucose into Pyruvic Acid).
• Kerb's Cycle 
• Electron Transport Chain, etc   

2. Molecular Biochemistry

Molecular biochemists focus on how biological molecules, such as water, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, are involved in making life possible. How do these biomolecules affect on physiological functions of living organisms (Animals, Plants, and Microorganisms)? They also want to know how a patient can be treated if he/she has an abnormality in one or more physiological disturbances that occurs due to these biomolecules.

Molecular Biochemistry can be further categorized into Biochemistry of DNA, Biochemistry of Proteins, Biochemistry of Lipids, Biochemistry of Carbohydrates, Biochemistry of Hormones, etc.

Examples of Molecular Biochemistry in action

• ATP synthesis from mononucleotides.
• Formation of RBCs
• Accumulation of lipids, that then cause heart diseases, etc

3. Animal Biochemistry

Animals form the most complex and diverse group among all living creatures, thus having more complexities at the cellular, molecular, morphological, gene, and physiological levels. In order to know more and more about animals' biochemical life, it is important for Animal Biochemists to have a close look at what's happening at the molecular level during health and illness. 

Examples of Animals' Biochemistry in action       

• Glycogenesis (Formation of Glycogen).
• Glycolysis (Breakdown of Glucose)
• Gluconeogenesis (Formation of Glucose from non-carbohydrate sources).
• Lipogenesis and Lipolysis (Formation and breakdown of Lipids, respectively), etc

4. Plant Biochemistry

Plants also require nutrients (in the form of fertilizers), need Optimum pH and temperature for the proper working of enzymes, and have systems (such as a transport system). For all these factors to work at a normal physiological scale, Plant biochemists study Plant biochemistry. For agriculture purposes, Plant biochemists provide valuable data on how plants can be get protected from pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, etc.    

Examples of Plant Biochemistry in action       

• Photosynthesis 
• Photorespiration
• Accumulation of Glucose in the form of starch.
• Plant cell Biochemistry, etc.

5. Immune Biochemistry

6. Endocrinology  

7. Enzymology

Enzymes act as biological catalysts and are involved in all types of biochemical reactions, such as catabolic reactions (reactions involved in the breakdown of biochemicals), anabolic reactions (reactions involved in the synthesis of biochemicals), and amphibolic reactions (which are both catabolic and anabolic).