PORTAGE BIOCHEMISTRY
ALL MODULES 2024-2025
NOTES UPDATED
1.1: Introduction
,Biochemists study nature at the interface of chemistry and biology. There are many examples of
biological processes and organisms from daily life that could help illustrate this study. What are some
of your favorite animals or plants? As a child, you might remember chasing lightning bugs around the
yard in a thrilling dash to put them in a jar. The yellow-blue glow of a lightning bug on a summer’s
evening draws the eye of children and adults alike. Some may call these critters fireflies, but no
matter the name, they are fascinating. These insects are a fantastic example of how both chemistry
and biology can tell us much about a living being.
The glow, which is a process called bioluminescence, does not just happen by chance, but through
several highly-coordinated events caused by proteins, which are biological molecules that perform
work in living organisms. In the case of bioluminescence, proteins regulate, produce, and degrade
the light-emitting chemical compound, luciferin (Figure 1.1). Luciferin, when acted upon by a
protein, glows in the night as these bugs move. Scientists believe the glow helps these insects
attract mates, which is necessary for the life cycle of fireflies and many other organisms, too.
, Figure 1.1. Line-bond structure of luciferin.
This organic molecule is the light-producing
compound found in lightning bugs.
Tennessee re ies: A summertime light show
, In A Flash: Fire y Communication
You can study the lightning bug’s glow through the lens of biochemistry. Biochemistry is often
referred to as the chemistry of life, and it asks how the remarkable properties of organisms relate to
their molecules. Biochemists study 1) the relationship between structure and function of
biomolecules, 2) chemical reactions of organisms (metabolism), and 3) communication within and
among organisms. In lightning bugs, we can see this biochemical study in the structure of luciferin
and its function as a light-emitting molecule. The chemical reaction of light production via luciferin is
regulated by the protein (enzyme) named, appropriately, luciferase. In actuality, this reaction is part
of a more extensive set of reactions that make up the bioluminescence metabolism. Finally, a firefly
communicates its location to other fireflies via light. Communication by light is not rare, but more
often communication occurs through chemical messengers.
As biochemistry interfaces with both biology and chemistry, the foundational concepts from both
fields must be understood in order to gain mastery. As such, biochemistry may seem particularly
complex because of the variety of compounds that must interact to produce an outcome. However,
when you understand biochemistry, you get a glimpse of natural processes, even those relating to
diseases and healing. We will explore the fundamentals of biochemistry in this course.
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