Biochemistry is a key subject in D. Pharmacy, and understanding concepts of different micronutrients and there functions are clearly important than just memorizing. In this post, Biochemistry Important questions are explained in simple language, which is useful for MSBTE, AKTU, BTEUP, RUHS and other state boards.
1) Biochemistry with its Definition, Aims, Objectives, and Importance
Biochemistry is the branch of science that studies the chemical composition of living organisms and the chemical processes occurring within cells, tissues, and biomolecules.
Aims and Objectives
Biochemistry aims to explain life at the molecular level. It helps students understand the structure and function of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, minerals, and vitamins. It explains how these molecules interact with each other inside cells, how enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions, and how energy is produced, stored, and utilized in living systems. Biochemistry also provides insight into the molecular basis of heredity, genetic variation, and replication, ensuring genetic continuity. From a clinical perspective, it helps in understanding metabolic abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, and disease mechanisms, forming the foundation for diagnosis and treatment.
Importance of Biochemistry
Biochemistry is essential for understanding the functioning of the human body at the molecular level. It plays a key role in diagnosing metabolic disorders, studying deficiency diseases, and understanding enzyme and hormone action. It also contributes to drug discovery, synthesis of new therapeutic molecules, and advancement of medical and pharmaceutical sciences.
2) Carbohydrates along with its Definition, Classification with Examples, and Qualitative Tests
Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Chemically, they are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or substances that yield such compounds on hydrolysis. They are commonly known as saccharides or sugars.
Classification of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are broadly classified into sweet-tasting glycans and non-sweet aglycans. Glycans include monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, ribose, glyceraldehyde, and pseudoheptulose, and oligosaccharides like sucrose (glucose + fructose) and lactose (glucose + galactose). Aglycans are polysaccharides and are further divided into homopolysaccharides such as starch, glycogen, cellulose, and hemicellulose, and heteropolysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, and heparin.
Qualitative Tests for Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are identified using several qualitative chemical tests. Benedict’s and Fehling’s tests detect reducing sugars by the formation of a brick-red precipitate. Barfoed’s test distinguishes monosaccharides from disaccharides by rapid red precipitate formation. Seliwanoff’s test differentiates ketoses from aldoses, producing a cherry-red color with ketoses. The iodine test identifies polysaccharides, giving blue-violet color with starch and brownish color with glycogen. Molisch’s test is a general test for carbohydrates and produces a violet ring at the junction of two liquids. The mucic acid test is specific for galactose and lactose, while Tollen’s test detects reducing sugars by formation of a silver mirror.
3) TCA Cycle / Krebs Cycle / Citric Acid Cycle
The TCA cycle is a cyclic series of enzymatic reactions through which acetyl-CoA is completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. It was discovered by Sir Hans Krebs and is also known as the citric acid cycle due to the formation of citric acid as the first stable intermediate.
Pyruvic acid formed during glycolysis enters the mitochondria and is converted into acetyl-CoA with the release of CO₂ and formation of NADH₂. Acetyl-CoA then combines with oxaloacetic acid to form citric acid, which is isomerized to isocitric acid. Isocitric acid undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to form oxalosuccinic acid and then α-ketoglutaric acid. Further decarboxylation converts α-ketoglutaric acid into succinyl-CoA. Succinyl-CoA is converted to succinic acid with the generation of GTP, which is equivalent to ATP. Succinic acid is oxidized to fumaric acid, producing FADH₂, which is then converted to malic acid. Malic acid is finally oxidized to oxaloacetic acid with the formation of NADH₂, completing the cycle.
The TCA cycle plays a central role in energy production. Complete aerobic oxidation of one glucose molecule yields approximately 38 ATP, of which about 30 ATP are produced through the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
4) Glycolysis / EMP Pathway
Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway in which glucose is converted into pyruvic acid through a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions occurring in the cytoplasm.
Initially, glucose is phosphorylated to glucose-6-phosphate using ATP. This compound is then converted to fructose-6-phosphate, which undergoes a second phosphorylation to form fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. This molecule is split into phosphoglyceraldehyde (PGAL) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which interconvert. PGAL undergoes oxidation and phosphorylation to form 1,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid with the generation of NADH₂. Subsequent substrate-level phosphorylation steps produce ATP as the intermediates are converted into phosphoenol pyruvate. Finally, phosphoenol pyruvate is converted into pyruvic acid, generating additional ATP.
During glycolysis, a total of 10 ATP are formed, while 2 ATP are consumed, resulting in a net gain of 8 ATP under aerobic conditions.
5) Beta-Oxidation of Fatty Acids
Beta-oxidation is the process by which fatty acids are broken down in the mitochondria to produce acetyl-CoA units. In this process, oxidation occurs at the beta carbon of the fatty acid chain.
The fatty acid is first activated to fatty acyl-CoA. It then undergoes oxidation, where FAD removes hydrogen atoms to form unsaturated acyl-CoA. This is followed by hydration, producing β-hydroxy acyl-CoA. Further oxidation using NAD forms 3-keto fatty acyl-CoA. Finally, thiolytic cleavage releases one molecule of acetyl-CoA and a shortened fatty acyl-CoA, which re-enters the cycle. This process continues until the entire fatty acid chain is converted into acetyl-CoA molecules, which then enter the TCA cycle for energy production.
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