essay about biochemistry

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction

Historical background

• Chemical composition of living matter
• Metabolism and hormones
• Evolution and origin of life
• Applied biochemistry
• Centrifugation and electrophoresis
• Chromatography and isotopes

biochemistry

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Western Oregon University - Department of Chemistry - The Foundations of Biochemistry
• Chemistry LibreTexts - Biochemistry
• NSCC Libraries Pressbooks - Biochemistry
• The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biochemistry
• biochemistry - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• biochemistry - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

biochemistry , study of the chemical substances and processes that occur in plants , animals , and microorganisms and of the changes they undergo during development and life. It deals with the chemistry of life, and as such it draws on the techniques of analytical , organic, and physical chemistry , as well as those of physiologists concerned with the molecular basis of vital processes.

All chemical changes within the organism—either the degradation of substances, generally to gain necessary energy, or the buildup of complex molecules necessary for life processes—are collectively called metabolism . These chemical changes depend on the action of organic catalysts known as enzymes , and enzymes, in turn, depend for their existence on the genetic apparatus of the cell . It is not surprising, therefore, that biochemistry enters into the investigation of chemical changes in disease , drug action, and other aspects of medicine , as well as in nutrition , genetics , and agriculture.

The term biochemistry is synonymous with two somewhat older terms: physiological chemistry and biological chemistry . Those aspects of biochemistry that deal with the chemistry and function of very large molecules (e.g., proteins and nucleic acids ) are often grouped under the term molecular biology . Biochemistry has been known under that term since about 1900. Its origins, however, can be traced much further back; its early history is part of the early history of both physiology and chemistry .

The particularly significant past events in biochemistry have been concerned with placing biological phenomena on firm chemical foundations.

Before chemistry could contribute adequately to medicine and agriculture, however, it had to free itself from immediate practical demands in order to become a pure science . This happened in the period from about 1650 to 1780, starting with the work of Robert Boyle and culminating in that of Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier , the father of modern chemistry. Boyle questioned the basis of the chemical theory of his day and taught that the proper object of chemistry was to determine the composition of substances. His contemporary John Mayow observed the fundamental analogy between the respiration of an animal and the burning, or oxidation, of organic matter in air. Then, when Lavoisier carried out his fundamental studies on chemical oxidation, grasping the true nature of the process, he also showed, quantitatively, the similarity between chemical oxidation and the respiratory process.

Photosynthesis was another biological phenomenon that occupied the attention of the chemists of the late 18th century. The demonstration, through the combined work of Joseph Priestley , Jan Ingenhousz , and Jean Senebier , that photosynthesis is essentially the reverse of respiration was a milestone in the development of biochemical thought.

In spite of these early fundamental discoveries, rapid progress in biochemistry had to wait upon the development of structural organic chemistry , one of the great achievements of 19th-century science. A living organism contains many thousands of different chemical compounds . The elucidation of the chemical transformations undergone by these compounds within the living cell is a central problem of biochemistry. Clearly, the determination of the molecular structure of the organic substances present in living cells had to precede the study of the cellular mechanisms, whereby these substances are synthesized and degraded.

There are few sharp boundaries in science, and the boundaries between organic and physical chemistry, on the one hand, and biochemistry, on the other, have always shown much overlap. Biochemistry has borrowed the methods and theories of organic and physical chemistry and applied them to physiological problems. Progress in this path was at first impeded by a stubborn misconception in scientific thinking—the error of supposing that the transformations undergone by matter in the living organism were not subject to the chemical and physical laws that applied to inanimate substances and that consequently these “vital” phenomena could not be described in ordinary chemical or physical terms. Such an attitude was taken by the vitalists , who maintained that natural products formed by living organisms could never be synthesized by ordinary chemical means. The first laboratory synthesis of an organic compound , urea, by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828, was a blow to the vitalists but not a decisive one. They retreated to new lines of defense, arguing that urea was only an excretory substance—a product of breakdown and not of synthesis. The success of the organic chemists in synthesizing many natural products forced further retreats of the vitalists. It is axiomatic in modern biochemistry that the chemical laws that apply to inanimate materials are equally valid within the living cell.

At the same time that progress was being impeded by a misplaced kind of reverence for living phenomena, the practical needs of humans operated to spur the progress of the new science. As organic and physical chemistry erected an imposing body of theory in the 19th century, the needs of the physician, the pharmacist, and the agriculturalist provided an ever-present stimulus for the application of the new discoveries of chemistry to various urgent practical problems.

Two outstanding figures of the 19th century, Justus von Liebig and Louis Pasteur , were particularly responsible for dramatizing the successful application of chemistry to the study of biology . Liebig studied chemistry in Paris and carried back to Germany the inspiration gained by contact with the former students and colleagues of Lavoisier. He established at Giessen a great teaching and research laboratory, one of the first of its kind, which drew students from all over Europe.

Besides putting the study of organic chemistry on a firm basis, Liebig engaged in extensive literary activity, attracting the attention of all scientists to organic chemistry and popularizing it for the layman as well. His classic works, published in the 1840s, had a profound influence on contemporary thought. Liebig described the great chemical cycles in nature. He pointed out that animals would disappear from the face of Earth if it were not for the photosynthesizing plants, since animals require for their nutrition the complex organic compounds that can be synthesized only by plants. The animal excretions and the animal body after death are also converted by a process of decay to simple products that can be re-utilized only by plants.

In contrast with animals, green plants require for their growth only carbon dioxide , water , mineral salts, and sunlight. The minerals must be obtained from the soil , and the fertility of the soil depends on its ability to furnish the plants with these essential nutrients. But the soil is depleted of these materials by the removal of successive crops; hence the need for fertilizers. Liebig pointed out that chemical analysis of plants could serve as a guide to the substances that should be present in fertilizers. Agricultural chemistry as an applied science was thus born.

In his analysis of fermentation, putrefaction, and infectious disease , Liebig was less fortunate. He admitted the similarity of these phenomena but refused to admit that living organisms might function as the causative agents. It remained for Pasteur to clarify that matter. In the 1860s Pasteur proved that various yeasts and bacteria were responsible for “ferments,” substances that caused fermentation and, in some cases, disease. He also demonstrated the usefulness of chemical methods in studying these tiny organisms and was the founder of what came to be called bacteriology .

Later, in 1877, Pasteur’s ferments were designated as enzymes, and, in 1897, German chemist Eduard Buchner clearly showed that fermentation could occur in a press juice of yeast , devoid of living cells. Thus a life process of cells was reduced by analysis to a nonliving system of enzymes. The chemical nature of enzymes remained obscure until 1926, when the first pure crystalline enzyme (urease) was isolated. This enzyme and many others subsequently isolated proved to be proteins , which had already been recognized as high-molecular-weight chains of subunits called amino acids.

The mystery of how minute amounts of dietary substances known as the vitamins prevent diseases such as beriberi , scurvy , and pellagra became clear in 1935, when riboflavin (vitamin B 2 ) was found to be an integral part of an enzyme. Subsequent work has substantiated the concept that many vitamins are essential in the chemical reactions of the cell by virtue of their role in enzymes.

In 1929 the substance adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was isolated from muscle. Subsequent work demonstrated that the production of ATP was associated with respiratory (oxidative) processes in the cell. In 1940 F.A. Lipmann proposed that ATP is the common form of energy exchange in many cells, a concept now thoroughly documented. ATP has been shown also to be a primary energy source for muscular contraction.

The use of radioactive isotopes of chemical elements to trace the pathway of substances in the animal body was initiated in 1935 by two U.S. chemists, Rudolf Schoenheimer and David Rittenberg . That technique provided one of the single most important tools for investigating the complex chemical changes that occur in life processes. At about the same time, other workers localized the sites of metabolic reactions by ingenious technical advances in the studies of organs, tissue slices, cell mixtures, individual cells, and, finally, individual cell constituents , such as nuclei, mitochondria , ribosomes , lysosomes , and membranes.

In 1869 a substance was isolated from the nuclei of pus cells and was called nucleic acid , which later proved to be deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA ), but it was not until 1944 that the significance of DNA as genetic material was revealed, when bacterial DNA was shown to change the genetic matter of other bacterial cells. Within a decade of that discovery, the double helix structure of DNA was proposed by Watson and Crick , providing a firm basis for understanding how DNA is involved in cell division and in maintaining genetic characteristics .

Advances have continued since that time, with such landmark events as the first chemical synthesis of a protein , the detailed mapping of the arrangement of atoms in some enzymes, and the elucidation of intricate mechanisms of metabolic regulation, including the molecular action of hormones .

Essay on Biochemistry

Students are often asked to write an essay on Biochemistry in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Biochemistry

What is biochemistry.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes in living things. It combines biology and chemistry. Biochemists try to understand how life works at a molecular level. They study things like cells, proteins, and DNA.

Importance of Biochemistry

Biochemistry is very important. It helps us understand how our body works. For example, it explains how food turns into energy. It also helps doctors understand diseases. This is important for making new medicines.

Fields of Biochemistry

There are many fields in biochemistry. Some biochemists study plants. They want to understand how plants grow and make food. Others study animals. They want to understand how animals live and grow.

Biochemistry in Everyday Life

Biochemistry is everywhere in our daily life. It is in the food we eat and the air we breathe. It is also in the medicines we take. Understanding biochemistry helps us make better choices for our health.

The Future of Biochemistry

250 words essay on biochemistry.

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living things. It’s like a bridge between biology and chemistry. It helps us understand how our bodies work. Biochemists study things like the structure of molecules, how food gives us energy, and how our bodies fight disease.

Biochemistry is very important. It helps doctors understand diseases and find ways to cure them. It also helps us understand nutrition and how the food we eat affects our health. For example, biochemists discovered vitamins and how they keep us healthy.

There are many different areas in biochemistry. Some biochemists study how cells talk to each other. Others look at how plants use sunlight to make food. Some even study how our genes affect our health. These are just a few examples.

Future of Biochemistry

The future of biochemistry is exciting. New technologies are helping biochemists make amazing discoveries. For example, they are now able to look at the smallest parts of cells in great detail. This could lead to new treatments for diseases.

In conclusion, biochemistry is a fascinating field that helps us understand the world around us. It’s a key part of medicine and health, and it’s always changing and growing. So, if you’re curious about how life works, biochemistry might be the subject for you!

500 Words Essay on Biochemistry

The importance of biochemistry.

Biochemistry is very important. It helps us understand how our body works. For example, it explains how food is broken down to give us energy, how our bodies fight diseases, and how our body grows. It also plays a key role in medicine, agriculture, and many other fields.

The Building Blocks of Life

All living things, from tiny bacteria to big elephants, are made up of tiny units called cells. Inside these cells, there are even smaller parts called molecules. These molecules are the building blocks of life. Some examples are proteins, fats, and DNA. Biochemistry studies these molecules to understand how they help the cell function.

Proteins and Enzymes

Dna and genes.

DNA is another important molecule. It is like a recipe book for our bodies. It tells our cells what proteins to make. Each recipe is called a gene. Genes decide our traits, like our hair color and height. Biochemists study DNA to understand how it controls our bodies.

Energy in Our Bodies

Our bodies need energy to function. We get this energy from the food we eat. Biochemistry helps us understand how our bodies break down food into energy. This process is called metabolism. It involves many chemical reactions, and enzymes play a big role in it.

Role in Medicine

To sum it up, biochemistry is a fascinating field that helps us understand the mysteries of life. It has many practical uses, from medicine to agriculture. Even though it involves complex chemical reactions, its goal is simple: to understand how life works at the molecular level.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best biochemistry topic ideas & essay examples, 🎓 interesting topics to write about biochemistry, ⭐ simple & easy biochemistry essay titles, ❓ biochemistry essay questions.

• How Biochemical Conditions and Brain Activity are Linked to Crime Studies have shown that areas with high rates of homicide and other forms of violence had a lot of lead in the air.
• Biochemistry: Protein Translocation Types & Forms The occurrence of this channel occurs due to the existence of a preserved heteromeric membrane protein complex. The result of this is forward translocation movement.
• Common Biochemical Cycles Carbon is also an important element for the living organisms; hence the carbon cycle which is a gaseous cycle takes place to recycle the carbon and make it available for the living organisms.
• The Teenage Experience and Biochemical Changes It is most likely that for teenagers of all generations, the strive to be independent and free will be relevant in one shape or form.
• Biochemical and Technological Basis Behind COVID Vaccines The background image represents the virus model where the blue color denotes the surface area of the virus and the red color symbolizing the spike protein.
• “Biochemistry of Love” by Carter & Porges The key concepts explored in the chapter include the role of oxytocin and vasopressin in the creation of emotional bonds. The other two notable concepts described in the chapter are the impact of love on […]
• COVID-19 Vaccines’ Biochemical and Technological Basis Various types of vaccines have been developed in the United States and Europe to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic.
• Spectrophotometry Used in Biochemical Settings The work of a spectrophotometer is based on this law to calculate the amount of light, its absorption, and concentration. Spectrophotometry is necessary to demonstrate how non-destructive methods help check the condition of the water, […]
• The Universal Nature of Biochemistry If the power between the two atoms is the same they share the electrons and form a covalent bond, but if one atom’s power exceeds the other, then one loses the electron or electrons to […]
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand Measurement The essence of the method of measuring BOD is to establish the concentration of molecular oxygen in the water sample immediately after the selection and after incubation periods of the sample.
• Green Fluorescent Protein – Applications in Biochemistry While undertaking the isolation, the authors noted in their study that one of the distinctive properties of the Aequoria aequoria is that it had the ability to emit a greening luminescence.
• Biochemical Metabolism: Foreign DNA Molecule The virtual gel should show the band pattern that would result from incubating the plasmid with restriction enzymes as indicated below.
• Musical Exposure and Its Effect on Biochemical Changes Last, to policymakers and nursing practitioners, the effect of specific music types on various biochemical messengers lays solid ground for understanding music’s function in physiological mechanisms.
• Vitamin B6: Biochemical Overview In order to maintain the proper percentage of Vitamin B6 in the patient’s body, it is imperative that the dietary allowances of the vitamin should be in direct proportion to the patient’s age; more to […]
• Water and Its Role in Biochemical Processes The goal of this paper is to discuss the chemical properties of water that are most important for life on Earth.
• Michael Smith: Nobel Prize-Winning Biochemist In the late 1980s, he helped found the Biotechnology Laboratory located at the University of British Columbia. Since he was a firm believer in genomic research, he accepted the appointment by Victor Ling to become […]
• Biochemistry and Volunteer Work In particular, I was the volunteer at ophthalmology center to work with patients and learn more about physiology and biochemistry of the eye and its parts.
• Biochemistry Dogmas and Their Impacts on Biotechnology Unlike in the past, people have seen the importance of studying life sciences, and with the support from private and public sectors, the number of students enrolling in life science courses is on the rise. […]
• Biochemistry of Metabolism in Health & Disease
• Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease
• Amplifying Biochemistry Concepts With Content-Rich Music
• Scope and Application of Biochemistry
• Biochemistry: Biosynthetic and Energy Metabolism and Its Regulation
• 10 Reasons Why Biochemistry Is Important
• Industrial Applications of a New Biochemical Technology
• The Importance of Biochemistry in Medical Science
• Biochemistry and Its Application in the Discovery and Development of a New Drug
• Chemistry and Biochemistry of Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
• Example of Biochemistry in Daily Life
• Applications of Biochemistry in Daily Life
• The Biochemical Diagnosis of Heart Disease
• Biochemistry for Sport and Exercise Metabolism
• Introduction to Biochemical Pharmacology and Drug Discovery
• Applications of Biochemistry and Molecular Sciences Research
• The Biochemistry of Metabolism
• Discovering Functional Relationships: Biochemistry Versus Genetics
• Biochemical Basis of Dna Replication Fidelity
• Physicochemical and Biochemical Aspects of Pharmacology
• General Introduction to Biochemistry and Its Applications
• Which Is Better, Biomedical Science, or Biochemistry?
• The Use of Biochemistry Within Biotechnology
• Fat Cell Filling, Ketogenic Diet, and the History of Biochemistry
• Principles of Biological Sciences: Botany, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences
• Biochemical Aspects of Lipid Storage and Utilization in Animals
• What Is the Importance of Biochemistry in Public Health
• Applications and Trends in Systems Biology in Biochemistry
• The Role of Clinical Biochemistry in Community Health
• Problem Solving in Biochemistry: A Practical Approach
• The Biochemistry and Technology of Tea Manufacture
• Biochemical Properties of Human D-Amino Acid Oxidase
• Introduction to Amino Acids in MCAT Biochemistry
• Stereochemistry and Its Application in Biochemistry
• Metabolism in Motion: Engaging Biochemistry Students With Animation
• The Biochemical System Controlling the Effects of Cannabis
• Recent Advances in Biochemistry
• Tryptophan Biochemistry: Structural, Nutritional, Metabolic, and Medical Aspects in Humans
• Biochemical Mechanisms of Medicine
• Difference Between Biology and Biochemistry
• What Is the Biochemistry Used For?
• Which Country Is Most Famous for Its Biochemists?
• What Are the Fields of Biochemistry?
• Is Biochemistry a Hard Major?
• What Are the Branches of Biochemistry?
• Do Biochemists Make Medicine?
• What Is the Main Study of Biochemistry?
• What Is the Highest Paid Job in Biochemistry?
• Why Do Nurses Need to Study Biochemistry?
• What Careers Would Fall Under Biochemistry?
• Can a Biochemist Become a Nurse or a Doctor?
• What Tests Are in Biochemistry?
• Why Is It Important to Learn Biochemistry?
• What Is Common and Different Between Biochemistry and Medicine?
• How Are the Principles of Biochemistry Applied in Practice?
• What Is the Role of Math in Biochemistry?
• How Can We Apply Biochemistry in Daily Life?
• How Long Does It Take To Get a Biochemist Degree?
• Which Branch of Biochemistry Would You Choose to Study?
• Is It Possible to Make a Career in Biochemistry?
• Who Is the Most Famous Biochemist?
• What Subjects Are Taught in Biochemistry?
• What Is the Best College for a Biochemist?
• Who Is the Father of Biochemistry?
• How Long Is Biochemistry Course?
• Is Biochemistry More Biology or Chemistry?
• What Is an Example of Biochemistry?
• What Branch of Biology Is Biochemistry?
• Who First Discovered Biochemistry?
• What Does a Biochemist Do in a Hospital?
• Antibiotic Ideas
• Botany Essay Titles
• Opioids Research Topics
• Vitamins Research Topics
• Metabolic Disorders Questions
• Scientist Paper Topics
• Water Research Ideas
• Pfizer Ideas
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/biochemistry-essay-topics/

"90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 26 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/biochemistry-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 26 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/biochemistry-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/biochemistry-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "90 Biochemistry Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/biochemistry-essay-topics/.

• Chemistry Articles

Biochemistry

Have you ever observed how chemical reactions or processes occur within the human body? How do metabolic activities take place? Yes, you will get to know all these life processes through ‘Biochemistry.’

What is Biochemistry?

The branch of science dealing with the study of all the life processes such as control and coordination within a living organism is called Biochemistry.

This term was introduced to us by Carl Neuberg, the father of biochemistry in the year 1930. This field combines biology as well as chemistry to study the chemical structure of a living organism. The biochemists get into the investigation of the chemical reactions and combinations which are involved in various processes like reproduction, heredity, metabolism, and growth, thus performing research in different kinds of laboratories.

Introduction to Biochemistry includes wide areas of molecular biology as well as cell biology. It is relevant to molecules that make up the structure of organs and cells which is the molecular anatomy. It describes carbon compounds and the reactions they undergo in living organisms. It also describes molecular physiology, which is the functions of molecules in carrying out the requirements of the cells and organs.

It mainly deals with the study of the structure and functions of the biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins , acids, and lipids. Hence, it is also called Molecular biology.

Branches of Biochemistry

The primary branches of biochemistry are listed in this subsection.

Molecular Biology

It is also referred to as the roots of Biochemistry. It deals with the study of functions of the living systems. This field of biology explains all the interactions between DNA, proteins, and RNA and their synthesis.

Cell biology

Cell Biology deals with the structure and functions of cells in living organisms. It is also called Cytology. Cell biology primarily focuses on the study of cells of the eukaryotic organisms and their signalling pathways, rather than focussing on prokaryotes- the topics that will be covered under microbiology.

Metabolism is one of the most important processes taking place in all living things. It is nothing but the transformations or the series of activities that happens when food is converted into energy in a human body. One example of metabolism is the process of digestion.

Genetics is a branch of biochemistry that deals with the study of genes, their variations and the heredity characteristics in living organisms.

The other branches include Animal and Plant Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Chemistry, Genetic engineering, Endocrinology, Pharmaceuticals, Neurochemistry, Nutrition, Environmental, Photosynthesis, Toxicology, etc.

Importance of Biochemistry

Biochemistry is essential to understand the following concepts.

• The chemical processes which transform diet into compounds that are characteristics of the cells of a particular species.
• The catalytic functions of enzymes.
• Utilizing the potential energy obtained from the oxidation of foodstuff consumed for the various energy-requiring processes of the living cell.
• The properties and structure of substances that constitute the framework of tissues and cells.
• To solve fundamental problems in medicine and biology.

To learn more about biochemistry and other important branches of chemistry, such as physical chemistry , register with BYJU’S now!

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

Visit BYJU’S for all Chemistry related queries and study materials

Your result is as below

Request OTP on Voice Call

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post My Comment

this is very useful i like it keep it up very beautifully presented

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Undergraduate Teaching
• Part II Biochemistry
• Department of Biochemistry
• About the Department
• How to find us
• Disabled access
• Job opportunities
• Wellbeing, Inclusion, Diversity, Equality overview
• Wellbeing in Biochemistry
• Alumni overview
• Alumni Events overview
• Biochemistry Centenary Alumni Day
• Biochemistry Alumni Day 2023
• Alumni Festival 2020
• Alumni Festival 2019
• Alumni Festival 2018
• Alumni Newsletter
• Alumni benefits
• Engaging with us
• Keep in touch
• Photos and history overview
• Department pictures overview
• Class pictures (1949/1950 - 1959/1960)
• Class pictures (1960/1961 - 1969/1970)
• Class pictures (1970/1971 - 1979/1980)
• Class pictures (1980/1981 - 1989/1990)
• Class pictures (1990/1991 - 1999/2000)
• Class pictures (2000/2001 - 2009/2010)
• Class pictures (2010/2011 - 2019/2020)
• Support us overview
• How to make a donation
• 1924 – 2024: Biochemistry centenary travel fund
• History of the Department overview
• Establishing the Department overview
• Biochemistry: a new science
• The coming of Hopkins
• Hopkins arrives in Cambridge
• The foundations of metabolism
• Expansion after World War I
• Teaching biochemistry
• A new School of Biochemistry
• Haldane and the Sex Viri
• Low Temperature Research Station
• The Dunn Institute
• The Sir William Dunn Institute overview
• New arrivals
• The Academic Assistance Council
• Synge, Martin, Dixon and Mitchell
• Needham, Sanger and Stephenson
• The Colman Library overview
• Sir Jeremiah Colman
• Establishing the Library
• Reflections on the early years overview
• Malcolm Dixon on the Department
• Rudolph Peters on Hopkins
• The legacy of Hopkins
• Major events since 1945
• Commemorating Hopkins
• Biographies overview
• Sir William Dunn Professors and Heads of Department
• Former members of Department
• Nobel Prizes overview
• Frederick Gowland Hopkins
• Albert Szent-Györgyi
• Ernst Boris Chain
• Richard Laurence Millington Synge
• Hans Adolf Krebs
• Frederick Sanger
• Luis Federico Leloir
• Rodney Robert Porter
• Peter Dennis Mitchell
• César Milstein
• Roger Yonchien Tsien
• Photographic archive
• Latest news
• Publications blog
• 2018 News Archive
• 2017 News Archive
• 2016 News Archive
• 2015 News Archive
• 2014 News Archive
• 2013 News Archive
• Teaching Overview
• Applying to do Biochemistry
• First year overview
• Molecules in Medical Science overview
• Aims and Objectives
• Course Overview
• Additional Course Information
• Biology of Cells
• Evolution and Behaviour
• Mathematical Biology
• Second year overview
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology overview
• Cell and Developmental Biology
• Third year overview
• Part II Biochemistry overview
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Fourth year overview
• Part III Biochemistry overview
• Systems Biology
• Information for Supervisors and DoS overview
• Moodle for Supervisors
• Information for Demonstrators
• Contact information
• Postgraduate overview
• Funding Your Post Graduate Studies
• Current Postgraduate students
• Contact Information
• Research overview
• Research Group Leaders overview
• Current Faculty overview
• Bill Broadhurst
• Mark Carrington
• Marc de la Roche overview
• de la Roche Group website overview
• Group members overview
• Marc de la Roche
• Thomas Foets
• Helena Rannikmae
• Heidi Funke
• Publications
• Paul Dupree overview
• Dupree Group website overview
• Group members
• Jenny Gallop
• Camilla Godlee
• Florian Hollfelder
• Chris Howe overview
• Howe Group website overview
• About the Lab overview
• Postgraduate and Postdoctoral opportunities
• Biological Photovoltaics (BPV)
• Members overview
• Paolo Bombelli (Postdoctoral Researcher)
• Jack Hervey (Graduate Student)
• Ellen Nisbet (Senior Research Associate)
• Elfadil Osman (Graduate Student)
• Stephen Rowden (Graduate Student)
• Barnaby Slater (Graduate Student)
• Laura Wey (Graduate Student)
• Lab Publications overview
• 2004 - Present
• Prior to 2004
• Conference Proceedings, Commentaries, Book Chapters etc.
• Lab Adventures overview
• Christmas Party 2012
• P2P overview
• Construction
• The Solar Panel
• The Living Wall
• The Main Concept
• 14 Photo-active Models
• BEST overview
• Travel Route
• Commercial Partners overview
• Anaero Technology
• Lamda Stretch
• Academic Partners
• Device Electrical Output overview
• The BEST device
• Marko Hyvönen
• Tony Jackson
• Kathryn Lilley
• Ben Luisi overview
• Luisi Group website overview
• Useful Links
• Sarah Lummis
• Laura Machesky
• Helen Mott overview
• Mott and Owen Group website
• Daniel Nietlispach
• Darerca Owen overview
• Mott and Owen Group website overview
• PhD Projects
• Structure Gallery
• Luca Pellegrini overview
• Pellegrini Group website overview
• Lab members
• List of publications
• Lab resources overview
• MALS theory and practice
• FRET theory and practice
• CryoEM overview
• Former members
• Jeanne Salje
• Dee Scadden
• Chris Smith
• Jussi Taipale
• Alecia-Jane Twigger
• Ross Waller
• Martin Welch
• Evgeny Zatulovskiy
• Affiliated and Associate faculty overview
• John McCafferty
• Andrew Grace
• Brian Hendrich
• Steve Jackson
• Iva Tchasovnikarova
• Facility Managers overview
• Dima Chirgadze
• Shilo Titus
• Katherine Stott
• Nianshu Zhang
• Emeritus faculty overview
• Tom Blundell
• Kevin Brindle overview
• Gerard Evan
• Richard Farndale
• Robin Hesketh
• Ernest Laue overview
• Laue Group website overview
• Using single cell Hi-C to study 3D genome organisation
• Single-molecule imaging to study the function of the NuRD complex
• Investigation of nucleosome remodelling by CHD4/NuRD
• Peter Leadlay
• Jim Metcalfe
• Steve Oliver
• George Salmond
• Jean Thomas
• Former faculty overview
• Philip Zegerman
• Svetlana Khoronenkova
• Alex Borodavka
• Austin Smith
• Trevor Littlewood
• Richard Jackson
• Ellen Nisbet
• Jules Griffin
• Simone Weyand
• Stephanie Jung
• Jasmin Fisher
• Nancy Standart
• Rick Livesey
• Nick Robinson
• Giorgio Favrin
• Monique Gangloff
• Hee-Jeon Hong
• Karen Lipkow
• Natasha Murzina
• Independent Research Fellowships in Biochemistry
• COVID-19 projects overview
• Modulation of host cell RNA-binding proteins through the infectious cycle of SARS-CoV-2
• Analysing the human-coronavirus RNA interactome
• COVID-19 diagnostics for Africa
• Development of multiplex serological assays for evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 immunity
• Targeting conserved RNA elements in SARS-CoV-2 for therapy
• Affinity reagents for functional neutralisation of nCoV-19
• Structural and computational biology of COVID-19
• Facilities overview
• Cryo-Electron Microscopy
• Crystallography
• DNA Sequencing
• BioPath Stores overview
• Biochemistry: Standing order request
• Library overview
• Click and Collect service
• Multimedia Lab overview
• Vehicle Pool overview
• Intranet overview

Prepared essay example titles

• Postgraduate Study

Students are required to write a prepared essay of not more than 3000 words in length selected from titles proposed by the examiners. The topics offered for the prepared essay will concern ‘Science that affects Society’ and the Examiners will announce titles to students in the Michaelmas Term.   Examples of previous essay titles are included below.

• What are the prospects for extending human lifespan?  Discuss the molecular basis for how this might be achieved, and the implications for society?
• Should statins be prescribed more widely?
• Could the UK be self-sufficient in food crop production?  Discuss the biological parameters that might set limits on what could be achieved.
• Discuss current scientific theories of the origin of life.
• Is the mouse a good model for studying human disease?
• There was a major outbreak of Zika virus infections in 2016.  How might a biological understanding of the virus and its transmission help in preventing or containing future outbreaks?
• Neonicotinoids are used as insecticidal dressing for crop seeds.  What are the associated risks, and should we be using such chemicals?
• Is it feasible and desirable to enforce regulations to control applications of genome editing?
• Should there be a 'sugar tax' and if so, which sugars should be taxed and why?

Department of Biochemistry Hopkins Building Downing Site Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW

Contact: [email protected]

About this site.

• Privacy policy

Connect with us

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

• Biochemistry in Everyday Life
• Download PDF Copy

• Introduction

Defining Biochemistry

Applications of biochemistry: agriculture and food, applications of biochemistry in nutrition, applications of biochemistry in the fashion industry, further reading.

The impact of biochemistry has been seen most notably in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. However, biochemistry plays a fundamental role in everyday life, affecting different aspects of society from retail, food, cosmetics, and fashion to healthcare.

Biochemistry has been involved in the development of many products and processes used every day.  These include the discovery and improvement of medical products, cleaning products and DNA recombinant technology which can be used to make important molecules such as insulin and food additives.

Biochemical and binocular knowledge has also assisted the quality and quantity of food production through improved agrochemicals, the development of crops with enhanced resistance to pests and disease, and the preparation of foods that improve human health, which includes pre- and pro-biotics and antioxidants.

Biochemistry can be considered to contain several branches. These include Enzymeology; Endocrinology; Molecular biology; Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering; Immunology; Structural Biochemistry; Neurochemistry; and Cell Biology. Each of these disciplines concerns a different component of biochemistry.

Increasingly, the global food system is under strain, with an increase in the prevalence of polarised obesity and poverty, and increased dependence on chemical fertilizer and pesticides, poor quality foods, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity. As such, many practices are being revised and regenerated. These practices are informed by biochemistry.

Biochemistry is used to enhance plant growth, yield, and quality as a consequence of optimizing fertilizer components. Crop improvement has also been improved by way of increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, alongside augmented nutritional value.

With knowledge of the mechanism of action of fertilizers, such as nitrates, the use of fertilizer can be optimized to improve plant growth quality. An example of this is the increasing use of biochemical fertilizers including nitrogen fixes, phosphorus potassium, sulfur solubilizers, and various fungi such as mycorrhiza, and Trichoderma, as well as small molecular iron chelators called siderophores that are produced by microbes.

This is thought to ameliorate the effect of intense use of chemical fertilizers, which cause water contamination, depleted nutrients, and soul deterioration.

Biochemistry plays an important role in nutrition and health and is considered to be a powerful unsustainable tool for the improvement of health, reduction of poverty, and hunger in the world. Through the use of sustainable biochemistry, the commercialization of biochemical techniques is considered to be a powerful way of reducing brook global poverty and hunger and improving nutritional delivery across the world.

Biochemistry in agriculture. Image Credit: PopTika/Shutterstock.com

The most notable way in which biochemistry has affected nutrition is through crop improvement using several biochemically-informed techniques. Since 1996, genetically modified crop varieties have been developed through the introduction of genes or genetic elements with desirable functions.

Despite concerns, genome editing tools have recently emerged as a new form of technology and have been successfully used to modify crop genomes without evidencing the use of foreign gene introduction across a variety of species. Although they have only been used relatively recently, they have greatly improved crop yield and quality.

Characteristics of crop improvement include improved nutritional and functional quality, particularly for staple crops that satisfy high demand, such as maize, wheat, potato, and rice. For example, 20% of the world's population – over one billion people - is dependent on rice cultivation as an energy supply. Gene technology has been used to improve, for example, glutinosity in rice varieties. A high-amylose and low-viscosity rice variety was produced by knocking out SBEIIb, a gene for the starch branching enzyme, using CRISPR/Cas9.

To circumvent the issue caused by cold storage of potatoes in transport, TALEN technology was used to remove a gene encoding for vacuolar invertase, which catalyzes the breakdown of sucrose into glucose and fructose. This prevents the accumulated reducing sugars that cause high levels of a potential carcinogen compound, acrylamide,  produced when they react with free amino acids when cooked.

Related Stories

• New research identifies key protein complex in cellular quality control
• Decreasing folate intake can support healthier metabolisms in aging animal models
• Columbia study reveals bacteria create free-floating genes, challenging genetic code norms

Biochemistry is also applied in the context of food contamination, with biochemistry aiding in determining detailed food chemistry. Related to this, biochemistry is essential in nutrient value tests, which can define the percentage or concentrations of nutrients in various types of foods consumed. Moreover, through a complex understanding of the macromolecular, vitamin, and mineral content of food, food can be used strategically to improve the quality of life. For example, knowledge of the effects of high quantities of sugar and fats enables doctors and nutritionists to advise patients on their dietary choices.

Rice production. Image Credit: pran/Shutterstock.com

Biochemistry is used in biotechnological applications in the textile industry. Enzymes are used routinely to bleach and wash textiles, and to change the property of clothing, for example changing the appearance of denim or preventing shrinkage of fiber types, such as wool and cotton. Increasingly, microbial involvement in the fashion industry has begun to take hold, avoiding the use of traditional chemical processes which are associated with high levels of pollution.

Spider silk, for example, is noted for its strong flexible and lightweight properties; however, it has not been possible to farm spider silk on an industrial scale in the past. However, by using fermentation bioreactors, genetically engineered bacteria can be used to produce this in large quantities. Due to knowledge of the material properties of the silk on a molecular level, this affords significant control over the final product relative to traditional materials. Moreover, this use of technology addresses the problem of sustainability as the silk is produced in the absence of animal or petroleum material.

Spider silk. Image Credit: Pablesku/Shutterstock.com

In fact, biochemically-mediated approaches have the potential to impact climate change, which is increasingly being recognized as a large challenge facing society worldwide. Biochemical knowledge has been used to identify solutions such as algal biofuels, carbon sequestration, and more efficient industrial processes, which can help protect the environment and enhance economic opportunities. 

Biochemical research can also be used to understand the basic biological processes as well as complex and elegant mechanisms for harnessing energy and converting it into a form that can be used. By understanding these processes, the development of advanced biotechnology products has been achieved, which enables the production of novel types of bioenergy such as biochemical photovoltaics.

Through the identification of natural products that occur from biochemical reactions, products have been developed that enhance human health. This research has been fundamental and has increased public understanding of the importance of good nutrition and disease.

This article touches on a few examples of biochemistry in everyday life. Biochemistry continues to address the challenges faced by society worldwide, improving and influencing aspects of our lives.

• Pace NR. (2001) The universal nature of biochemistry. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. doi: 10.1073/pnas.98.3.805.
• Biotechnology Is Changing How We Make Clothes. Available at: . Accessed December 2021
• National Research Council (US) Committee on Research Opportunities in Biology. Opportunities in Biology. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1989. 10, Advances in Medicine, the Biochemical Process Industry, and Animal Agriculture. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK217814/ .
• Chojnacka K, Moustakas K, Witek-Krowiak A. (2020)Bio-based fertilizers: A practical approach towards circular economy. Bioresour Technol. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122223.
• Chen Y, Michalak M, Agellon LB. (2018) Importance of Nutrients and Nutrient Metabolism on Human Health. Yale J Biol Med.
• Kornberg A. (2004) Biochemistry matters. Nat Struct Mol Biol 11, doi:10.1038/nsmb0604-493
• All Biochemistry Content
• What is Biochemistry?
• What is Bioorganic Chemistry?
• An Introduction to Enzyme Kinetics
• How Can Biochemistry Practices be made Virtual?

Last Updated: May 11, 2022

Hidaya Aliouche

Hidaya is a science communications enthusiast who has recently graduated and is embarking on a career in the science and medical copywriting. She has a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from The University of Manchester. She is passionate about writing and is particularly interested in microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

Aliouche, Hidaya. (2022, May 11). Biochemistry in Everyday Life. News-Medical. Retrieved on September 12, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Biochemistry-in-Everyday-Life.aspx.

Aliouche, Hidaya. "Biochemistry in Everyday Life". News-Medical . 12 September 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Biochemistry-in-Everyday-Life.aspx>.

Aliouche, Hidaya. "Biochemistry in Everyday Life". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Biochemistry-in-Everyday-Life.aspx. (accessed September 12, 2024).

Aliouche, Hidaya. 2022. Biochemistry in Everyday Life . News-Medical, viewed 12 September 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Biochemistry-in-Everyday-Life.aspx.

Suggested Reading

Nice information.  It really helps keep us updated about the subject . Thank you.  Stay blessed.

Cancel reply to comment

• Trending Stories
• Latest Interviews
• Top Life Sciences Articles

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Ilona Vuist

In this interview, discover how Charles River uses the power of microdialysis for drug development as well as CNS therapeutics.

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Lindsey Hiebert and James Amugsi

In this interview, we explore global and local efforts to combat viral hepatitis with Lindsey Hiebert, Deputy Director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), and James Amugsi, a Mandela Washington Fellow and Physician Assistant at Sandema Hospital in Ghana. Together, they provide valuable insights into the challenges, successes, and the importance of partnerships in the fight against hepatitis.

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2024, we spoke to Professor John Yates about capturing cardiomyocyte cell-to-cell heterogeneity via shotgun top-down proteomics.

Latest Life Science News

Why I Choose Biochemistry Major: The Path Forward

• Categories: Academic Interests Education Goals

About this sample

Words: 597 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 597 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

The nexus of curiosity and complexity, bridging academia and aspirations, shaping a vision for the future.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Education

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 636 words

1 pages / 558 words

1 pages / 570 words

2 pages / 714 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Academic Interests

Brief introduction of the author Background in a lower-class family and education Completed Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Worked as an IT Instructor in vocational training institutes Currently [...]

Have you ever lived in a home where your depression is “all in your head?” Ever felt ostracized because your anxiety attacks were perceived as a drama queen? Your physical health mattered more than your mental health, because in [...]

My desire to pursue a Business degree stems from my profound curiosity about the field. I am eager to delve into the intricacies of business operations and explore the strategies that drive increased [...]

Dry campus policies, which prohibit the possession and consumption of alcohol on university property, have been a subject of considerable debate. These policies are implemented by numerous institutions across the United States [...]

I am very interested in pursuing a bachelor degree at the University of Debrecen in Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). I would like to set a profession in business and very hopeful that this Bachelor’s degree will help [...]

Bangladesh is still progressing in the field of technology. Our government has implemented a new plan named Digital Bangladesh by 2021 that includes the use of IT for management, administration and governance. So, the IT sector [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Essays in Biochemistry, Volume 33

S. J. Higgins

• For sale only in North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and the Philippines

Before you purchase audiobooks and ebooks

Please note that audiobooks and ebooks purchased from this site must be accessed on the Princeton University Press app. After you make your purchase, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download the app. Learn more about audio and ebooks .

Support your local independent bookstore.

• United States
• United Kingdom

Essays in Biochemistry, Volume 33: Molecular Biology of the Brain

• Edited by S. J. Higgins
• Princeton Legacy Library

• Download Cover

The workings of the brain have long held a fascination for scientists. Yet, faced as they have been with the obvious anatomical and biochemical complexity of the brain, understanding its functions—more than superficially—has seemed an impossible goal. The authors of the essays in this volume, acknowledged experts in their specialties, have illustrated the power of molecular biology to dissect the molecular functioning of the brain. The volume has related essays on neurotransmitters and their receptors, aspects of neuronal development and neurodegeneration, the molecular biology of opiate action, and the concept of neuronal networks in the olfactory system. It continues with essays on some of the major healthcare problems that can be expected to yield to analysis by molecular genetical approaches—neurodegenerative and affective disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, spongiform encephalopathies, prion diseases, and trinucleotide expansion disorders. The volume concludes first with an exciting account of how molecular biology is beginning to explain a phenomenon as complex as memory and, finally, a thought-provoking essay on future developments in the field. Originally published in 1999. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Stay connected for new books and special offers. Subscribe to receive a welcome discount for your next order. 

Buy a gift card for the book lover in your life and let them choose their next great read.

• ebook & Audiobook Cart

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings
• My Bibliography
• Collections
• Citation manager

Save citation to file

Email citation, add to collections.

• Create a new collection
• Add to an existing collection

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search, create a file for external citation management software, your rss feed.

• Search in PubMed
• Search in NLM Catalog
• Add to Search

A special issue of Essays in Biochemistry on current advances about CAZymes and their impact and key role in human health and environment

Affiliations.

• 1 Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), 29680 Roscoff, Bretagne, France.
• 2 INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, 13009 Marseille, France.
• PMID: 37070299
• DOI: 10.1042/EBC20230004

Carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) and their biochemical characterization have been the subject of extensive research over the past ten years due to their importance to carbohydrate metabolism in different biological contexts. For instance, the understanding that 'polysaccharide utilizing loci' (PUL) systems hosted by specific 'carbohydrate degraders' in the intestinal microbiota play key roles in health and disease, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer to name the most well-characterized, has led to an outstanding effort in trying to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which these processes are organized and regulated. The past 10 years has also seen the expansion of CAZymes with auxiliary activities, such as lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) or even sulfatases, and interest has grown in general about the enzymes needed to remove the numerous decorations and modifications of complex biomass, such as carbohydrate esterases (CE). Today, the characterization of these 'modifying' enzymes allows us to tackle a much more complex biomass, which presents sulfations, methylations, acetylations or interconnections with lignin. This special issue about CAZyme biochemistry covers all these aspects, ranging from implications in disease to environmental and biotechnological impact, with a varied collection of twenty-four review articles providing current biochemical, structural and mechanistic insights into their respective topics.

Keywords: cazymes; intestinal disease; polysaccharide utilizing loci.

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

• Search in MeSH

Related information

Linkout - more resources, full text sources.

• Elsevier Science
• Silverchair Information Systems

Miscellaneous

• NCI CPTAC Assay Portal

• Citation Manager

NCBI Literature Resources

MeSH PMC Bookshelf Disclaimer

The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts

Biochemistry articles within Nature

Technology Feature | 12 September 2024

Red light, green light: flickering fluorophores reveal biochemistry in cells

A mysterious afterglow in a pandemic side project leads to a new method for observing proteins that interact in living cells.

• Alla Katsnelson

Research Briefing | 11 September 2024

Cracking the tubulin code: enzyme structures offer clues to microtubule control

Cellular structural filaments called microtubules are made up of units of tubulin proteins. Various enzymes add modifications to and remove them from tubulin units; together, these modifications form a ‘tubulin code’ that controls microtubule function. Structures of an enzyme called CCP5 reveal how it deforms tubulin tails to recognize and remove modifications called single-glutamate branches.

Article 11 September 2024 | Open Access

Mechanism of BRCA1–BARD1 function in DNA end resection and DNA protection

BRCA1–BARD1 directly promotes double-strand break repair by stimulating long-range DNA end resection pathways.

• Ilaria Ceppi
• , Maria Rosaria Dello Stritto
•  &  Petr Cejka

Article | 11 September 2024

Promotion of DNA end resection by BRCA1–BARD1 in homologous recombination

Using highly purified protein factors, we provide evidence that BRCA1–BARD1 physically interacts with EXO1, BLM and WRN and upregulates the activity of all three resection pathways.

• Sameer Salunkhe
• , James M. Daley
•  &  Patrick Sung

The ultra-high affinity transport proteins of ubiquitous marine bacteria

Genome-wide characterization of solute-binding proteins in SAR11, a group of ubiquitous marine bacteria, reveals that they generally combine high binding affinities with narrow binding specificities, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the adaptation of SAR11 to diverse marine environments.

• Ben E. Clifton
• , Uria Alcolombri
•  &  Paola Laurino

Article | 04 September 2024

CDK5–cyclin B1 regulates mitotic fidelity

Cyclin B1 is a mitotic co-factor of CDK5.

• Xiao-Feng Zheng
• , Aniruddha Sarkar
•  &  Dipanjan Chowdhury

Article | 21 August 2024

NAC guides a ribosomal multienzyme complex for nascent protein processing

Cotranslational N-terminal methionine excision and acetylation of eukaryotic proteins on ribosomes is coordinated by the nascent polypeptide-associated complex.

• Alfred M. Lentzsch
• , Denis Yudin
•  &  Shu-ou Shan

News & Views | 21 August 2024

Inner membrane turns inside out to exit mitochondrial organelles

How do mitochondrial organelles remove damaged parts of inner membrane for recycling in the cytoplasm? The discovery of an exit route that flips inner membrane outside the organelle provides some answers.

• David Pla-Martín
•  &  Andreas S. Reichert

Structural insights into the high-affinity IgE receptor FcεRI complex

A study presents high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy structures detailing how the elements of FcεRI assemble and how this receptor complex interacts with the target immunoglobulin E.

• Meijie Deng
•  &  Junyu Xiao

Article 21 August 2024 | Open Access

Visualizing chaperonin function in situ by cryo-electron tomography

Visualizing chaperonin complexes in their natural cellular environment using cryo-electron tomography, the authors propose a GroEL–GroES reaction cycle that consists of linked asymmetrical and symmetrical subreactions mediating protein folding.

• Jonathan Wagner
• , Alonso I. Carvajal
•  &  F. Ulrich Hartl

Research Briefing | 14 August 2024

How nitrogen compounds in fertilizers and fossil-fuel emissions affect global warming

Human activities have led to high levels of nitrogen compounds entering the environment, causing air and ecosystem pollution. Comprehensive modelling now shows that this nitrogen has partly offset global warming — suggesting that efforts to reduce environmental nitrogen levels must be backed up with even greater efforts to mitigate climate change.

News & Views | 14 August 2024

How to design a protein that can be switched on and off

Proteins have been designed that assemble in different ways depending on whether an ‘effector’ molecule is present — a demonstration of allostery, the phenomenon that enables switch-like control of protein functions in nature.

• A. Joshua Wand

Article 14 August 2024 | Open Access

De novo design of allosterically switchable protein assemblies

We investigate the de novo design of allostery and suggest that it can arise from global coupling of the energetics of protein substructures without optimized allosteric communication pathways, providing a roadmap for the design of switchable molecular systems.

• Arvind Pillai
• , Abbas Idris
•  &  David Baker

Structural basis for transthiolation intermediates in the ubiquitin pathway

Structural analyses of analogues of stable ubiquitin transthiolation intermediates with E1, E2 and E3 enzymes reveal a population of intermediate states that provide insights into the directional transfer of ubiquitin between E1, E2 and E3.

• Tomasz Kochańczyk
• , Zachary S. Hann
•  &  Christopher D. Lima

Article | 07 August 2024

A virally-encoded tRNA neutralizes the PARIS antiviral defence system

• Nathaniel Burman
• , Svetlana Belukhina
•  &  Artem Isaev

Dopamine reuptake and inhibitory mechanisms in human dopamine transporter

Structural analyses of the human dopamine transporter in apo and substrate-bound states and in complex with drugs and inhibitors reveal key binding residues and conformational transitions that occur during substrate transport.

• , Xianping Wang
•  &  Yan Zhao

Architecture and activation mechanism of the bacterial PARIS defence system

The bacterial phage anti-restriction-induced system, PARIS, operates as a toxin–antitoxin system, in which the antitoxin AriA sequesters and inactivates the toxin AriB until triggered by the T7 phage counterdefence protein Ocr.

• , Qishan Liang
•  &  Kevin D. Corbett

Article 07 August 2024 | Open Access

PTER is a N -acetyltaurine hydrolase that regulates feeding and obesity

The orphan enzyme phosphotriesterase-related (PTER) is identified as a mammalian N -acetyltaurine hydrolase that has roles in regulating body weight and energy balance.

• , Xuchao Lyu
•  &  Jonathan Z. Long

Research Briefing | 31 July 2024

A joint bacterial effort to produce vitamin B 12

Vitamin B 12 consists of two molecular components and has been thought to be synthesized only in full by certain bacteria. It emerges that two bacterial strains that each exclusively produce one building block can complement each other to enable joint synthesis of the vitamin.

Article 31 July 2024 | Open Access

FANCD2–FANCI surveys DNA and recognizes double- to single-stranded junctions

FANCD2–FANCI is a sliding clamp that diffuses on double-stranded DNA but stalls when it reaches a single-stranded gap, providing a unified molecular mechanism that reconciles the roles of FANCD2–FANCI in the recognition and protection of stalled replication forks.

• Pablo Alcón
• , Artur P. Kaczmarczyk
•  &  Lori A. Passmore

Article | 31 July 2024

Propofol rescues voltage-dependent gating of HCN1 channel epilepsy mutants

Propofol repairs malfunctioning mutant HCN1 channels associated with epilepsy, and its unusual mechanism of action on these ion channels can potentially be exploited to design precision drugs targeting HCN channelopathies.

• Elizabeth D. Kim
• , Xiaoan Wu
•  &  Crina M. Nimigean

News & Views | 24 July 2024

Forests don’t just absorb CO 2 — they also take up methane

Field studies reveal that the woody surfaces of upland trees are a substantial global sink for methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The findings help to fill a hole in the global methane budget and should improve the accuracy of climate models.

• Patrik Vestin

How does the spliceosome dismantle itself?

Precursor messenger RNA is edited into its final form by an RNA–protein assembly called the spliceosome. Structural evidence provides insights into how the spliceosome is disassembled when its job is complete.

•  &  Rui Zhao

News | 22 July 2024

Mystery oxygen source discovered on the sea floor — bewildering scientists

A chemical reaction could be producing oxygen by splitting water molecules, but its source of energy remains unknown.

• Davide Castelvecchi

Article 17 July 2024 | Open Access

Inhibition of IL-11 signalling extends mammalian healthspan and lifespan

IL-11 is identified as a key regulator of ERK–AMPK–mTORC1 signalling, metabolism, inflammation and age-related disease and lifespan in mouse and human.

• Anissa A. Widjaja
• , Wei-Wen Lim
•  &  Stuart A. Cook

Article | 17 July 2024

An engineered enzyme embedded into PLA to make self-biodegradable plastic

Embedding of a new engineered thermostable hydrolase into polymer materials enables the production of biodegradable and home-compostable plastics suitable for industrial packaging applications.

• M. Guicherd
• , M. Ben Khaled
•  &  A. Marty

A eukaryotic-like ubiquitination system in bacterial antiviral defence

A study reports the structure and molecular mechanism of the Bil anti-phage defence system, demonstrating that it is the closest prokaryotic homologue of canonical eukaryotic ubiquitination pathways.

• Lydia R. Chambers
• , Qiaozhen Ye

Tubulin code eraser CCP5 binds branch glutamates by substrate deformation

Cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray structures of the glutamylation eraser CCP5 in complexes with glutamylated microtubules and tubulin tails show that the substrate backbone adopts a bent conformation that presents the branch glutamate to a substrate-binding pocket on CCP5.

• , Elena A. Zehr
•  &  Antonina Roll-Mecak

News & Views | 10 July 2024

Waves of ferroptotic cell death sculpt embryonic tissue

An unusual form of cell death called ferroptosis can sweep over embryonic tissues in a wave-like manner to ensure proper muscle development — evidence that ferroptosis has a role in normal physiology.

• Judith Goncalves
•  &  Scott J. Dixon

Article | 10 July 2024

Phage anti-CRISPR control by an RNA- and DNA-binding helix–turn–helix protein

The helix–turn–helix domain of an anti-CRISPR-associated (Aca) protein represses transcription of anti-CRISPR (Acr)-encoding genes and inhibits their translation to protein via distinct binding modes to DNA and RNA, respectively.

• Nils Birkholz
• , Kotaro Kamata
•  &  Peter C. Fineran

Research Briefing | 03 July 2024

Eating habits of Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau revealed

The discovery of a rib fragment from Baishiya Karst Cave greatly extends the presence of Denisovan hominins on the Tibetan Plateau. In-depth analyses of fossilized animal bones from the same site show that Denisovans made full use of the available animal resources.

Article | 03 July 2024

A µ-opioid receptor modulator that works cooperatively with naloxone

A newly discovered negative allosteric modulator of the µ-opioid receptor works together with naloxone to potently block opioid agonist signalling with reduced adverse effects.

• Evan S. O’Brien
• , Vipin Ashok Rangari
•  &  Brian K. Kobilka

Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access

NBS1 lactylation is required for efficient DNA repair and chemotherapy resistance

Lactylation of NBS1 by TIP60 promotes homologous recombination-driven DNA repair and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer cells and links altered cancer cell metabolism to increase genome stability.

• Hengxing Chen
•  &  Changhua Zhang

An anti-CRISPR that pulls apart a CRISPR–Cas complex

AcrIF25 inhibits the type I-F CRISPR–Cas system by disassembling its ribonucleoprotein effector complex without an external energy source.

• Chantel N. Trost
• , Jing Yang
•  &  Alan R. Davidson

Article 26 June 2024 | Open Access

Structural mechanism of bridge RNA-guided recombination

Using cryo-electron microscopy, the structural mechanism by which non-coding bridge RNA confers target and donor DNA specificity to IS110 recombinases for programmable DNA recombination is explored.

• Masahiro Hiraizumi
• , Nicholas T. Perry
•  &  Hiroshi Nishimasu

Article | 19 June 2024

An alternative broad-specificity pathway for glycan breakdown in bacteria

A screen of a human gut microbiome metagenomic library reveals a cluster of enzymes with an unconventional mechanism and an extremely broad substrate scope.

• Seyed Amirhossein Nasseri
• , Aleksander C. Lazarski
•  &  Stephen G. Withers

Article | 06 June 2024

Mechanisms of actin filament severing and elongation by formins

Cryo-electron microscopy shows five structural states of inverted formin 2 and two of formin diaphanous 1 bound to F-actin, providing step-by-step visualization of the mechanisms of F-actin severing and elongation by formins.

• Nicholas J. Palmer
• , Kyle R. Barrie
•  &  Roberto Dominguez

Article | 29 May 2024

Pro-CRISPR PcrIIC1-associated Cas9 system for enhanced bacterial immunity

Comprehensive analyses of Cas9 proteins shed light on the evolution of the CRISPR–Cas9 system, and identify a pro-CRISPR accessory protein in bacteria that boosts CRISPR-mediated immunity by enhancing the DNA binding and cleavage activity of Cas9.

• Shouyue Zhang
•  &  Jun-Jie Gogo Liu

News & Views | 22 May 2024

Cells cope with altered chromosome numbers by enhancing protein breakdown

When chromosomes are lost or gained, massive changes in gene expression disrupt the delicate balance of proteins in a cell. Yeasts with incorrect chromosome numbers counteract this by degrading excess proteins.

• Zuzana Storchová

Article 22 May 2024 | Open Access

Natural proteome diversity links aneuploidy tolerance to protein turnover

Proteomic data from natural isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae provide insight into how these cells tolerate aneuploidy (an imbalance in the number of chromosomes), and reveal differences between lab-engineered aneuploids and diverse natural yeasts.

• Julia Muenzner
• , Pauline Trébulle
•  &  Markus Ralser

Molecular mechanism of choline and ethanolamine transport in humans

Structural analysis of the human choline and ethanolamine transporters FLVCR1 and FLVCR2 clarifies the mechanisms of transport, the conformational dynamics of these proteins and the disease-associated mutations that interfere with these processes.

• , Tsai-Hsuan Weng
•  &  Schara Safarian

Article 15 May 2024 | Open Access

Physiological temperature drives TRPM4 ligand recognition and gating

A temperature-dependent Ca 2+ -binding site in the intracellular domain of TRPM4 is essential for TRPM4 function in physiological contexts.

• , Sung Jin Park
•  &  Wei Lü

Article | 15 May 2024

Dimerization and antidepressant recognition at noradrenaline transporter

Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the noradrenaline transporter in the apo state, bound to noradrenaline and bound to various antidepressants shed light on the substrate transport, molecular recognition and dimeric architecture of this protein.

• , Yu-Ling Yin
•  &  Yi Jiang

Article | 13 May 2024

Plasmid targeting and destruction by the DdmDE bacterial defence system

Using cryo-electron microscopy, insights into the structural and mechanistic function of the DdmDE system that is responsible for plasmid elimination in Vibrio cholerae seventh pandemic strains are explored.

• Jack P. K. Bravo
• , Delisa A. Ramos
•  &  David W. Taylor

Technology Feature | 08 May 2024

Powerful ‘nanopore’ DNA sequencing method tackles proteins too

Latest methods bring the speed, portability, and long read lengths of nanopore sequencing to proteomics.

• Caroline Seydel

Article | 08 May 2024

Structural mechanism of angiogenin activation by the ribosome

Angiogenin binds to the ribosomal A site to cleave tRNA.

• Anna B. Loveland
• , Cha San Koh
•  &  Andrei A. Korostelev

News & Views | 08 May 2024

Vaccine-enhancing plant extract could be mass produced in yeast

The Chilean soapbark tree is the source of QS-21 — a valuable but hard-to-obtain vaccine additive. Yeast strains engineered to express all components of the QS-21 biosynthetic pathway provide an alternative route to this therapeutic.

Nature Podcast | 08 May 2024

Alphafold 3.0: the AI protein predictor gets an upgrade

Deepmind’s protein-structure predictor adds other molecules to the mix, and a big step towards a ‘nuclear clock’.

• Benjamin Thompson
•  &  Nick Petrić Howe

Article 08 May 2024 | Open Access

The intrinsic substrate specificity of the human tyrosine kinome

An atlas of the substrate specificities for the human tyrosine kinome reveals diversity of motif specificities and enables identification of kinase–substrate relationships and kinase regulation in phosphoproteomics experiments.

• Tomer M. Yaron-Barir
• , Brian A. Joughin
•  &  Jared L. Johnson

Boron catalysis in a designer enzyme

A completely genetically encoded boronic-acid-containing designer enzyme was created and characterized using X-ray crystallography, high-resolution mass spectrometry and 11 B NMR spectroscopy, allowing chemistry that is unknown in nature and currently not possible with small-molecule catalysts.

• Lars Longwitz
• , Reuben B. Leveson-Gower
•  &  Gerard Roelfes

Browse broader subjects

• Biological sciences

Browse narrower subjects

• Biocatalysis
• Biogeochemistry
• Bioinorganic chemistry
• Biophysical chemistry
• Carbohydrates
• Chemical modification
• Enzyme mechanisms
• Glycobiology
• Histocytochemistry
• Immunochemistry
• Ion channels
• Metabolomics
• Neurochemistry
• Protein folding
• Proteolysis
• Structural biology

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies