Nucleic acids are macromolecules that are essential to all living organisms. They are made up of building blocks called nucleotides, which consist of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group. There are two types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The chemical composition of DNA nucleotides includes: The…
Oxidation of biomolecules refers to a process in which electrons are lost from a molecule, leading to a decrease in its energy content. Biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins can undergo oxidation in the presence of oxygen, which is a strong oxidizing agent. Carbohydrates, for example, can undergo oxidation to produce energy in the…
Ligands are molecules or ions that bind to a receptor site on a protein or other macromolecule to form a complex. This binding process is typically reversible and leads to a change in the conformation or activity of the macromolecule. In biochemistry, ligands can be classified as agonists or antagonists depending on their effect on…
