Major Themes in Biochemistry

Reflecting back on the course, what are three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course?  What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identified?

Three major themes in this course that I would identify as themes that connect the various topics discussed in this course would be:

Molecules as Building Blocks, Activity vs Inactivity, and Major Macromolecules as Energy Sources

 Molecules as Building Blocks: This theme was made evident in Biochem through the various lecture topics which all addressed at least one of the four classes of small molecules (amino acids, carbs, lipids, and nucleosides or nucleotides) as the building block to one or more important biomolecular structures. 


Activity vs Inactivity: This theme was made evident in Biochemistry lecture topics which explored stereoisomers of different biomolecular structures and their optically active forms vs their inactive forms. Stereoisomers are compounds with the same kinds and numbers of atoms, but with different molecular arrangements. Typically, most of the biomolecular structures that we discussed are only found in one of the possible stereoisomers. The naming systems which we learned (L/D forms and Alpha/Beta forms) help to distinguish whether or not a compound is in its active form or not and also whether or not there needs to be any conformational changes made to the structure before it can play its role in whatever process it may be involved in.


Macromolecules as Energy Sources: This theme was prominent throughout all of our lectures in Biochem and can possibly even be seen as an umbrella theme under which many of the others fall. The different cycles and mechanisms which we explored as part of the cycle of cellular respiration all play a role in the breakdown of Carbs, Protein, and Fat so that those macromolecules can be utilized for energy sources. What I found especially interesting about this theme in biochemistry was discovering how many ways these macromolecules can be used and the functions they serve in the body. For example, proteins are not just the building blocks of muscle tissue but can be found as part of DNA structure, hormones, enzymes, and as the material for many other essential structures and substances. Carbohydrates make up different parts of nucleotides and are also present in some components of ALL cell membranes. Lipids too are an essential component of membranes, and they also help to transport some vitamins (lipid soluble ones A,D,E,K) and are important energy stores in both plans and animals.