University of Houston

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University of Houston BCHS 3304 General
Biochemistry I, Section 07553 Spring 2003
100-230 PM Mon./Wed. AH 101 Instructor
Glen B. Legge, Ph.D., Cambridge UK Phone
713-743-8380 Fax [phone] E-mail
glegge_at_uh.edu Office hours Mon. and Wed.
(230-400 PM) or by appointment 353 SR2 
(Science and Research Building 2) Research
Interests Molecular mechanisms of cell
adhesion, using primarily multi- dimensional
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
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Course Outline 3 Exams and a Comprehensive Final
(See Syllabus) Tentatively, grades will be
15 As, 20 Bs, 35 Cs, 25 Ds, 5 Fs
Four Homeworks-to be Handed in!!! I will grade
it. Homework counts 10 of your grade.
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The Exams are based on the book, class notes, and
homework. Those who do the homework honestly,
will earn the better grades. I encourage group
homework and study sections. But each person in
a group must pull their own weight, copied
answers will be considered dishonest. Copying
the homework and not fully participating, cheats
yourself. I can not return homework, so
photocopy it for your records. You will need to
know the material! You can not just be familiar
with it. You will need to study about 2-3 hours
a day! This is a PROFESSIONAL COURSE
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The lecture notes and solutions to the homework
will be on the Web!! http//www.uh.edu/sibs/facult
y/glegge Remember the address is case sensitive.
These notes are not a substitute for class
participation. These notes will be (even in an
early form) will be posted before the lectures.
They are intended to make you pay attention in
class, take notes with you. Dont sit in class
and just copy notes!! I strongly suggest you read
the assigned material before the lecture.
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NOTE Cell Biology and Biochemistry Labs will
meet the first week of classes.
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• Foundations of Biochemistry
• Universe is 15-20 billion years old BIG BANG
• Initially H2 was made then condensed to He
• Stars formed-Stars died, Super novas exploded
  creating higher atomic number elements. Over the
  billions of years under the right conditions
  complex molecules formed. Complicated chemical
  reactions started occurring - intermolecular
  interactions and carbon based chemistry
  developed.
• From this milieu sprang the property of
• LIFE
• Biochemistry is the study of this process on a
  chemical level

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• The Physical Laws of Life
• Living organisms operate within the same physical
  laws that apply to physics and chemistry
• Conservation of Mass, Energy
• Laws of Thermodynamics
• Laws of Chemical Kinetics
• Principles of Chemical Reactions

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• Molecular Logic of Life
• These physical laws describe several axioms that
  make up the Molecular Logic of Life. These
  axioms define
• Energy converted to work
• Catalytic chemical transformations
• Assembly of molecules with great complexity from
  simple subunits.
• Complex molecules combine to form supra molecular
  components, organelles and finally assemble into
  a cell.
• Store and pass on instructions for the assembly
  of all future generations from simple non-living
  precursors

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• Common Functional Groups
• Arise from simple organic compounds

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• Condensation reactions
• Chemical Evolution, simple molecules condense to
  form more complex forms (polymers)

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Replication through complementarity

• More complex molecules increases chemical
  versatility
• Specific pairing of functional groups gives rise
  to complementarity
• Complementarity makes it possible for
  macromolecules to replicate
• Over time natural selection favored molecules
  that made accurate copies of themselves

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• Cell ? multi cell, varied and diverse and
  evolutionary processes lead to diversity but life
  has many common themes and processes.
• Organic compounds found in living organisms are a
  product of Biological Activity
• Biomolecules are selected by evolution- the fit
  are kept, the not fit are discarded.
• The more fit remain and continue to evolve.

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• Biomolecules have the same bonds, bond lengths,
  strength, 3D structures and chemical reactivities
  as inanimate matter!
• The vast complexity of the molecules, no matter
  how they interact, follow the physical laws of
  nature.
• Therefore Physics and Chemistry must be able to
  completely define life!!!

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From 3D structure to antibody interaction,
hormone function to replication and reproduction
i.e.. from Birth-Death. Life is defined within
the physical laws of Chemistry and Physics
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• The Essential Role of Water
• H2O is the key to understanding the behavior of
  macromolecules. It is the solvent of life and
  all living transformations occur in an aqueous
  media-
• Life is thought to arise from the sea.
• Even water-insoluble compounds such as lipid
  membranes derive their nature and function by
  their interactions with H2O.
• Living organisms are composed of lifeless
  molecules that conform to the physical laws of
  nature.

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However, the collective behavior of these many
molecules and their combined interactions, yield
extraordinary properties.
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