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Biochemistry

Learn how molecular structures and chemical reactions help explain the functions of living systems.

For: Learners at different starting points, from curious beginners to students reviewing introductory biochemistry.

After this page you can: Explain how biomolecule structure, enzyme activity, metabolism, and genetic information relate, and choose a next learning path.

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Part of: Science › Chemistry

About Biochemistry

Biochemistry studies the molecules and chemical processes of living systems. It connects molecular structure with biological function, including the roles of proteins and nucleic acids, enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and metabolism. The chemistry and biology hubs offer neighboring perspectives on the subject.

A useful way to study biochemistry is to move between molecular details and larger cellular processes. Begin with biomolecule structures, then examine enzyme mechanisms and metabolism. Follow the organic chemistry connection when reaction mechanisms are your focus, or use the routes below to begin with an open resource or a course.

Start here

route

I’m new to biochemistry

Begin with a short introduction to enzyme action, then use the section links to choose what to study next.

Start with: 6.5 Enzymes

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I’m returning to the subject

Use the course readings to review biomolecules, enzyme chemistry, membranes, signaling, and metabolism.

Start with: General Biochemistry

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I want to understand DNA-to-protein information flow

Start with the genetic code and follow how nucleotide sequences relate to protein sequences.

Start with: 15.1 The Genetic Code

Learn the foundations

1.Biomolecules and protein structureUse this cluster to connect amino-acid sequences with protein structure and function.

Use this cluster to connect amino-acid sequences with protein structure and function.

  • 3.4 Proteins

    This reading describes proteins as amino-acid polymers and links protein shape with function.

Protein

A polymer made of amino acids arranged in a linear sequence.

Denaturation

A change in protein shape that can lead to loss of function.

Try it

In one sentence, connect a protein’s amino-acid sequence to its function.

A protein’s amino-acid sequence contributes to its structure, and its shape is important to its function.

2.Enzymes and reaction mechanismsUse this cluster to study enzyme catalysis, activation energy, and substrate binding.

Use this cluster to study enzyme catalysis, activation energy, and substrate binding.

  • 6.5 Enzymes

    The reading explains activation energy, substrate binding, and enzyme regulation.

Enzyme

A molecule that catalyzes a biochemical reaction.

Activation energy

The energy barrier that must be overcome for a chemical reaction to occur.

Try it

Explain in one sentence how an enzyme can speed up a reaction.

An enzyme binds reactants in a way that makes bond-breaking and bond-forming processes occur more readily, lowering the reaction’s activation energy.

3.Metabolism and biochemical energyUse this cluster to trace how pathways break down molecules or build larger biomolecules.

Use this cluster to trace how pathways break down molecules or build larger biomolecules.

Metabolism

The collection of reactions that occur in the cells of living organisms.

Catabolism

Pathways that break larger molecules down into smaller ones.

Try it

Classify each pathway as catabolic or anabolic: breaking a large molecule into smaller molecules; building a large molecule from smaller ones.

Breaking a large molecule into smaller ones is catabolism; building a large molecule from smaller ones is anabolism.

4.Genetic information and protein synthesisUse this cluster to follow DNA-to-RNA-to-protein information flow.

Use this cluster to follow DNA-to-RNA-to-protein information flow.

  • General Biochemistry

    Its readings include nucleic acids, tRNAs, protein translation, and the ribosome.

Transcription

The process of making an RNA copy from genetic information in DNA.

Codon

A three-nucleotide sequence that specifies an amino acid or a termination signal.

Try it

In the usual DNA-to-protein information flow, name the intermediate molecule between DNA and protein.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the intermediate: DNA information is transcribed into mRNA, which ribosomes use to assemble a protein.

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Books

Glossary

Every free Biochemistry course and book on RedLectern

Free Biochemistry online courses

  1. Biochemical EngineeringMIT 10.442 · Browse materials
  2. Biochemistry and Pharmacology of Synaptic TransmissionMIT 9.15 · Browse materials
  3. Biological Chemistry IMIT 5.07SC · Browse materials · Video
  4. Biological Chemistry IIMIT 5.08J · Browse materials · Video
  5. General BiochemistryMIT 7.05 · Browse materials · Video
  6. Magnetic Resonance Analytic, Biochemical, and Imaging TechniquesMIT HST.584J · Browse materials
  7. Biochemistry LaboratoryMIT 5.36 · Open on OCW
  8. Separation Processes for Biochemical ProductsMIT 10.445 · Open on OCW
How these courses are chosen

Of the courses with “biochemistry” in their title or in a topic tag, these are listed as Biochemistry courses:

  • those whose title contains “Biochemistry”, “biochemical” or “biological chemistry”, or
  • those tagged “Biochemistry” as one of at most 2 topic tags, or as the first of 3.

Free Biochemistry textbooks and books

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