Pain-free biochemistry : an essential guide for the health sciences

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 enzymesTopic 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 122Topic 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 265SECTION 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