“Fundamentals of Biochemistry” explores the chemical constituents of plant, animal, and microbial life and the molecular mechanisms that sustain cellular metabolism. The course examines carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, storage and structural polysaccharides), lipids (fatty acids, triacylglycerols, compound lipids, rancidity), amino acids and proteins (protein structural hierarchies, denaturation, amphoteric properties), enzymes (enzyme classification, kinetics, Michaelis-Menten constant, factors influencing activity), nucleic acids (DNA and RNA architecture), and plant secondary metabolites.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Plant Biochemistry and Scope in Agricultural Sciences
- Carbohydrates – Definition, Classification, and Biological Importance
- Monosaccharides – Structure, Stereoisomerism, and Mutarotation of Aldoses and Ketoses
- Disaccharides – Maltose, Lactose, and Sucrose Structures and Glycosidic Bonds
- Polysaccharides – Homopolysaccharides (Starch, Cellulose, Glycogen) and Heteropolysaccharides
- Chemical Reactions and Reducing Properties of Sugars
- Lipids – Definition, Classification, and Biological Roles in Plants
- Fatty Acids – Saturated, Unsaturated, and Essential Fatty Acids
- Compound and Derived Lipids – Phospholipids, Glycolipids, and Sterols
- Physical and Chemical Constants of Fats – Saponification Value, Iodine Value, and Acid Value
- Amino Acids – Classification Based on Structure, Polarity, and Nutritional Essentiality
- Zwitterion Concept, Isoelectric Point, and Acid-Base Properties of Amino Acids
- Proteins – Peptide Bond Formation and Structural Levels (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary)
- Denaturation and Physical Properties of Proteins
- Enzymes – Classification, Nomenclature, and Mechanism of Enzyme Action
- Enzyme Kinetics – Michaelis-Menten Equation, Km Value, and Vmax
- Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity – Temperature, pH, Substrate Concentration, and Inhibitors
- Nucleic Acids – Purines, Pyrimidines, Nucleosides, and Nucleotides
- Structure of DNA (Watson-Crick Double Helix) and RNA Forms (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA)
- Plant Secondary Metabolites – Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Terpenes, and Phenolics in Plant Defense
File Details
| Title | Fundamentals of Biochemistry |
| File Name | BIC101 – Fundamentals of Biochemistry.pdf |
| File Type | PDF Document (.pdf) |
| File Size | 1.71 MB |
| Total Pages | 131 Pages |