chapter THE FOUNDATIONS OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1.1 Cellular Foundations 3 life arose--simple microorganisms with the ability to ex 1.2 Chemical Foundations 12 tract energy from organic compounds or from sunlight which they used to make a vast array of more complex 1.3 Physical Foundations 21 biomolecules from the simple elements and compounds 1.4 Genetic Foundations 28 on the earth's surface 1.5 Evolutionary Foundations 31 Biochemistry asks how the remarkable properties of living organisms arise from the thousands of differ- ent lifeless biomolecules. when these molecules are iso- With the cell, biology discovered its atom..To lated and examined individually, they conform to all the characterize life, it was henceforth essential to study the physical and chemical laws that describe the behavior cell and analyze its structure: to single out the common of inanimate matter--as do all the processes occurring denominators, necessary for the life of every cell; in living organisms. The study of biochemistry shows alternatively, to identify differences associated with the how the collections of inanimate molecules that consti- tute living organisms interact to maintain and perpetu- performance of special functions te life animated solely by the physical and chemical -Francois Jacob, La logique du vivant: une histoire de I'heredite laws that govern the nonliving universe (The Logic of Life: A History of Heredity ), 1970 Yet organisms possess extraordinary attributes properties that distinguish them from other collections We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that of matter. What are these distinguishing features of liv- man with all his noble qualities. . still bears in his ing organisT bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin a high degree of chemical complexity and Charles Darwin. The Descent of man, 1871 microscopic organization. Thousands of differ- ent molecules make up a cells intricate internal structures (Fig. l-la). Each has its characteristic ifteen to twenty billion years ago, the universe arose equence of subunits, its unique three-dimensional as a cataclysmic eruption of hot, energy-rich sub structure, and its highly specific selection of atomic particles. Within seconds, the simplest elements binding partners in the cell Hydrogen and helium) were formed. As the universe Systems for extracting, transforming, and expanded and cooled, material condensed under the in- using energy from the environment (Fig. fluence of gravity to form stars. Some stars became 1-1b), enabling organisms to build and maintain enormous and then exploded as supernovae, releasing their intricate structures and to do mechanical the energy needed to fuse simpler atomic nuclei into the chemical, osmotic, and electrical work. Inanimate more complex elements. Thus were produced, over bill- matter tends, rather, to decay toward a more lions of years, the earth itself and the chemical elements disordered state, to come to equilibrium with its found on the Earth today. About four billion years ago, surroundingschapter Fifteen to twenty billion years ago, the universe arose as a cataclysmic eruption of hot, energy-rich sub￾atomic particles. Within seconds, the simplest elements (hydrogen and helium) were formed. As the universe expanded and cooled, material condensed under the in￾fluence of gravity to form stars. Some stars became enormous and then exploded as supernovae, releasing the energy needed to fuse simpler atomic nuclei into the more complex elements. Thus were produced, over bil￾lions of years, the Earth itself and the chemical elements found on the Earth today. About four billion years ago, life arose—simple microorganisms with the ability to ex￾tract energy from organic compounds or from sunlight, which they used to make a vast array of more complex biomolecules from the simple elements and compounds on the Earth’s surface. Biochemistry asks how the remarkable properties of living organisms arise from the thousands of differ￾ent lifeless biomolecules. When these molecules are iso￾lated and examined individually, they conform to all the physical and chemical laws that describe the behavior of inanimate matter—as do all the processes occurring in living organisms. The study of biochemistry shows how the collections of inanimate molecules that consti￾tute living organisms interact to maintain and perpetu￾ate life animated solely by the physical and chemical laws that govern the nonliving universe. Yet organisms possess extraordinary attributes, properties that distinguish them from other collections of matter. What are these distinguishing features of liv￾ing organisms? A high degree of chemical complexity and microscopic organization. Thousands of differ￾ent molecules make up a cell’s intricate internal structures (Fig. 1–1a). Each has its characteristic sequence of subunits, its unique three-dimensional structure, and its highly specific selection of binding partners in the cell. Systems for extracting, transforming, and using energy from the environment (Fig. 1–1b), enabling organisms to build and maintain their intricate structures and to do mechanical, chemical, osmotic, and electrical work. Inanimate matter tends, rather, to decay toward a more disordered state, to come to equilibrium with its surroundings. THE FOUNDATIONS OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1.1 Cellular Foundations 3 1.2 Chemical Foundations 12 1.3 Physical Foundations 21 1.4 Genetic Foundations 28 1.5 Evolutionary Foundations 31 With the cell, biology discovered its atom . . . To characterize life, it was henceforth essential to study the cell and analyze its structure: to single out the common denominators, necessary for the life of every cell; alternatively, to identify differences associated with the performance of special functions. —François Jacob, La logique du vivant: une histoire de l’hérédité (The Logic of Life: A History of Heredity), 1970 We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities . . . still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin. —Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man, 1871 1 1 8885d_c01_01-46 10/27/03 7:48 AM Page 1 mac76 mac76:385_reb: