Biochemical interactions in the organism represent the basis of life. Basically, build-up and breakdown processes take place in the body, which are associated with energy uptake and energy release. Disturbances within the biochemical interactions express themselves in diseases.
What are biochemical interactions in the body?
Biochemical interactions in the body represent the basis of life. Biochemical interactions in the body are explained by the science of biochemistry. It deals with the interaction of chemical and biological processes in the body. Metabolism closely intertwines biological and chemical processes. In medicine, metabolic processes are studied in order to identify and treat disorders of these processes. These disorders can then often be successfully treated by supplying certain active substances from the outside. These can be drugs or missing active substances such as vitamins. For successful treatment, however, it is necessary to know the chemical processes in detail. Biochemistry therefore deals, among other things, with the structure of biological structures, molecular building blocks and their interactions with each other. It examines how substances are converted and which preconditions, enzymes or hormones are necessary for the various processes to take place. At the same time, biochemistry also examines how information is exchanged inside and outside the organism and the pathways for storage, retrieval and transmission of information.
Function and task
Biochemical interactions in the body are a general expression of life processes. For example, plants take inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water, and mineral salts and, with the addition of solar energy, convert them into organic compounds. These organic compounds are used by plants to build their biomass and maintain the actual life processes. Animal organisms, including humans, feed on organic matter that has already been built up. On the one hand, they use it to build up the body’s own compounds, and on the other hand, they use these substances to generate energy for physiological processes. Basically, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nucleic acids play an essential role for every organism. Proteins are polypeptides composed of about 20 different proteinogenic alpha-amino acids. They fulfill many different functions in the organism. For example, they are involved in the formation of muscles and all internal organs. They appear as immunoglobulins for the formation of antibodies. All enzymes consist of proteins. As enzymes, they catalyze the formation of important biochemical substances that are essential for the organism. In some cases, they also act as hormones that exert certain biochemical effects. The different properties and functions of proteins (albumin) are in turn a result of the sequence of amino acids present in the peptide chain. The replacement of an amino acid can render the protein molecule ineffective or give it a completely different effect. Responsible for the formation of proteins are the so-called nucleic acids in DNA and RNA. The genetic code is stored in the DNA. This determines which proteins are produced and how they act. In addition to proteins and nucleic acids, every organism also needs carbohydrates and fats. While proteins are responsible for the structure and functions of the body, carbohydrates and fats provide the necessary energy for bodily processes. The basic building blocks of these biological agents are closely interlinked by biochemical cycles. For example, the citric acid cycle (citrate cycle) plays a major role in the oxidative breakdown of organic compounds to produce energy. Within this cycle, however, the basic building blocks of carbohydrates, fats and proteins can be converted into each other. For almost every reaction step in the organism, one or more enzymes are necessary, among others. Furthermore, the hormone system represents a superordinate regulatory mechanism for coordinating bodily functions with one another. The transmission of information within cells, between cells and especially between nerve cells is also closely linked to all other biochemical processes. The processes are well coordinated and mutually dependent.This good coordination of processes has evolved in the course of evolution. If this were not the case, organisms would not be able to survive or even evolve.
Diseases and ailments
The biochemical interactions in the organism are very complex, and any deviation or disruption of the precisely coordinated processes can lead to serious health problems. The possibilities for pathological changes are many. There are both congenital and acquired forms of metabolic disorders. Since enzymes are required for each reaction step in the conversion of substances, even one defective enzyme can lead to significant pathological processes. Defective enzymes are caused by gene mutations, where often only one amino acid is exchanged. One example is phenylketonuria. Here, the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of the amino acid phenylalanine is limited in its action by a gene mutation. The accumulation of phenylalanine in the brain causes severe mental damage if not treated. A diet low in phenylalanine can prevent the adolescent from this disease. Many other substances are essential for the body. This means that they must be supplied with food. This applies to vitamins, minerals and also some amino acids. If they are lacking in the diet, deficiency symptoms occur that are often associated with severe diseases, such as scurvy in the case of vitamin C deficiency. Another typical example of acquired metabolic disorders is the metabolic syndrome with obesity, diabetes mellitus, lipid metabolism disorders and arteriosclerosis. This is caused by years of improper nutrition with too many carbohydrates and fats, which cannot be processed in the human biological blueprint.
