Description
Book SynopsisAn accessible engaging biochemistry primer with short, 'bite sized' chapters that gently lead the reader through the essential chemistry and biochemistry they need to know without going into unnecessary and intimidating detail. Assumes only a basic understanding of chemistry and focuses on helping the reader to understand key concepts.
Trade Review"For students embarking on careers in the health sciences, it is an essential academic companion and, retailing at approximately £28, it is excellent value for money". (The Biochemist, 1 June 2011)
"It's not every day that one picks up a textbook that can claim to occupy a unique niche, given the multitude of scientific textbooks that are vying for a medical readership. However, with the recent publication of Pain-Free Biochemistry: An Essential Guide for the Health Sciences, which is specifically aimed at students of medicine and nursing, one could be left wondering just why nobody thought of this sooner." (Irish Medical News, September 08, 2010)
Table of ContentsPreface x
Section 1 Foundations 1
Topic 1 Why biochemistry? 3
Topic 2 Remarkableness of life 9
Chemistry I The basic structure of substances: atoms, molecules, elements and compounds 13
Chemistry II Atomic structure, valency and bonding 16
Chemistry III Protons, acids, bases, concentration and the pH scale 25
Topic 3 Shape, molecular recognition and proteins: an example 32
Topic 4 Proteins: molecular necklaces 38
Topic 5 Chemical transformations in the living organism: metabolism 43
Topic 6 Reactions, catalysts and enzymes 46
Topic 7 Specificity, saturation and active sites 49
Topic 8 Structure of metabolism: anabolism and catabolism 54
Chemistry IV Equilibrium 56
Topic 9 Catabolism: degradation vs energy metabolism 60
Chemistry V Oxidation and reduction 63
Topic 10 Oxidation and reduction in metabolism 67
Section 2 Catabolism 71
Chemistry VI Aldehydes, ketones and sugars 73
Topic 11 Carbohydrates: sugars and polysaccharides in metabolism 81
Topic 12 Glucose inside the body 85
Topic 13 Breakdown of sugar: glycolysis 88
Topic 14 Aerobic oxidation of pyruvate: Krebs cycle 94
Topic 15 Respiratory chain, oxidative phosphorylation and overall ATP yields 98
Topic 16 Mobilising the carbohydrate store: glycogenolysis 103
Chemistry VII Alcohols, esters, glycerol, fatty acids and triglycerides 106
Chemistry VIII Hydrophobic, hydrophilic and amphiphilic 109
Topic 17 Phospholipids and membranes 111
Chemistry IX Saturated and unsaturated 114
Topic 18 Fats as an energy source 119
Topic 19 Fats: digestion, transport, storage and mobilisation 122
Topic 20 Fats: oxidation of fatty acids 126
Topic 21 Ketone bodies in health and disease 133
Topic 22 Dietary fat: essential fatty acids 137
Topic 23 Protein and amino acid breakdown 140
Topic 24 Shedding excess amino groups: urea cycle 147
Section 3 Anabolism and Control 151
Topic 25 Is anabolism just catabolism backwards? 153
Topic 26 Making new glucose: gluconeogenesis 156
Topic 27 Fatty acid biosynthesis 161
Topic 28 Providing reducing power: NADPH and the pentose phosphate pathway 164
Chemistry X Isotopes 168
Topic 29 Red cells and white cells: defence against reactive oxygen and reactive oxygen as defence! 172
Topic 30 The need for metabolic control 176
Topic 31 Relationship of fats and carbohydrates: use by different tissues 179
Section 4 Genes and Protein Synthesis 181
Topic 32 The idea of genes 183
Topic 33 The chemistry of genes: DNA and the double helix 186
Topic 34 The genetic code and mRNA 190
Topic 35 Protein synthesis, ribosomes and tRNA 193
Topic 36 Genetic differences and disease 197
Topic 37 Genetic variability: drug metabolism and disease susceptibility 203
Topic 38 Mutation, radiation and ageing 205
Topic 39 Switching genes on and off: development, tissue specificity, adaptation and tolerance 207
Topic 40 DNA and protein synthesis as targets: chemotherapy, antibiotics, etc. 210
Section 5 Physiological Systems and Clinical Issues 217
Topic 41 Hormones and second messengers 219
Topic 42 Switching enzymes on and off: coarse and fine control 222
Topic 43 Insulin, glucagon and adrenaline 224
Topic 44 Diabetes 229
Topic 45 Steroid hormones and receptors: fertility control, pregnancy testing, etc. 233
Topic 46 Pituitary hormones and feedback loops 238
Topic 47 Thyroid hormones 240
Topic 48 Adrenal cortex 244
Topic 49 Prostaglandins and inflammation: aspirin 246
Topic 50 Membrane transport 250
Topic 51 Nerve and muscle 255
Topic 52 pH homeostasis 258
Topic 53 Diagnostic markers: biochemical tests 261
Topic 54 Blood, bleeding and clotting 265
Section 6 Appendices 271
Appendix 1 pH and neutrality 273
Appendix 2 Crystallography 274
Appendix 3 Protein forces, secondary structure and folding 277
Appendix 4 Equilibrium constant 281
Appendix 5 Phosphorus, phosphoric acid and phosphate esters 283
Appendix 6 Coenzymes, cofactors and prosthetic groups 285
Appendix 7 Coenzyme A 287
Appendix 8 Krebs cycle and evidence for a catalytic reaction sequence 289
Appendix 9 Knoop’s experiment pointing to β-oxidation of fatty acids 291
Appendix 10 Isoenzymes 293
Appendix 11 Genetic code 295
Appendix 12 Different kinds of mutation 297
Appendix 13 Restriction enzymes 299
Appendix 14 Enzyme inhibition 301
Appendix 15 Electrophoresis to separate proteins 304
Appendix 16 Chromatography and mass spectrometry to
separate and identify metabolites 308
Glossary 313
MCQ answers 322
Index 323
