Important events in the field of biochemistry

The presentation gives insights into the event which proved to be milestones for the field of biochemistry

1. Important events in the field of biochemistry - Prepared by Nidhi Jodhwani

2. 1896 First demonstration of a complex biochemical process outside of a cell . 1953 Discovery of double helical structure of DNA & discovery of the biochemical steps of kreb cycle. 1828 First organic compound synthesized artificially 1883 Discovery of first enzyme 1957 Nobel prize for discovery of DNA & RNA 1959 Nobel prize for the development of antihistamines . Outline:

3. 1975 Development of the technique for making monoclonal antibodies 1970 Discovery of first restriction enzyme 1971 Demonstration of fundamental differences between viroids and viruses 1997 The complete nucleotide sequence of all of the chromosomes of a eukaryote is reported (yeast) Nobel Prize for developing the radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques 1977

4. First organic compound synthesised artificially (1828) Was found out by Friedrich Wöhler in attempt of synthesizing ‘ammonium cyanate’ Starting point of organic biochemistry First time organic compound was synthesised from inorganic precursors Originally derived from biological sources Disproved vitalism- the hypothesis that living things are alive because of some special "vital force".

5. Discovery of first enzyme (1883) Anselme Payen Diastase from extract of malt later became amylase. Converts starch into glucose. Promoted discovery of other enzymes. Booming of textile, food and paper industries Medical sciences, therapeutic science and diagnostics.

6. First demonstration of a complex biochemical process outside of a cell (1896) Eduard Buchner “Cell free fermentation” Alcoholic fermentation could take place with the help of yeast cell extract Enzyme activity is not dependent upon complex cell architecture.

7. Discovery of the Double Helical Structure of DNA(1953) The Double Helix structure of DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, which was marked a major milestone in the history of science. Francis Crick and James Watson with Maurice Wilkins received the 1962 Nobel Prize for discovering the molecular structure of DNA. Soon after the WWII, the race of to discover the “ Secret of Life ” was started, scientists knew that this would discovery of century and guarantee the Nobel prize.

8. 1) Disease diagnosis and treatment : Genetic susceptibility to Specific diseases. 2) Paternity and legal impact :Through the assessment of DNA, the paternity of a child can be identified, which has a significant effect on the child's upbringing and his or her life 3) Forensics and DNA :The discovery of DNA has meant that the guilt or innocence of a person who is investigated for a crime can be determined. It also means that scarce evidence can still yield vital clues regarding the perpetrator of a crime. 4) Agriculture and DNA :The impact of DNA on agriculture has been a very important one because it has allowed breeders to facilitate the breeding of animals that have a better resistance to diseases. Importance of Discovery of DNA:

9. Discovery of the biochemical steps of the Krebs cycle (1953) The Krebs cycle is the second of three stages of cellular respiration, in which glucose, fatty acids and certain amino acids, the so-called fuel molecules , are oxidized. The oxidation of these molecules is primarily used to transform the energy contained in these molecules into ATP. ATP provides for example energy for muscle contractions and can therefore be referred to as "energy currency" of the cells.

10. Nobel Prize for the Development of Antihistamines (1957) What is Antihistamine? Histamine-1 (H1) antihistamines are the first-line drug for the treatment of urticaria. They all competitively inhibit the binding of released histamine on H1 receptors and thus decrease the incidence of wheals and the intensity of itching. An antihistamine is a drug used to counteract the effects of histamine, the chemical released by certain cells in the body during an allergic reaction.

11. The groundwork for the development of antihistamines was made in the first half of the twentieth century by Swiss-Italian pharmacologist Daniel Bovet (1907-1992 ). Sir henry Dale , who found that histamine alone can induce the triple response the erythema , wheals and Iching and Bovet's work led to the discovery and production of antihistamines for allergy relief and earned him the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine in 1957.

12. Noble Price for the Discovery of Replication Of RNA(1959) RNA found Distinctly from the DNA. This was noted towards its sensitivity towards alkaline caused by an additional -OH on the ribose ATP and GTP were proposed to be the cell’s general energy source and building blocks for RNA Chemical analysis revealed that RNA shares three bases with DNA: adenine , cytosine and guanine . Uracil as a base unique to RNA was discovered in place of thymine in DNA.

13. Between 1951 and 1965 the RNA types that are useful in protein synthesis where identified. Messenger RNA (mRNA) as the carrier of genetic information, transfer RNA (tRNA) acting as the physical link between mRNA and protein, and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) present in ribosomes for protein synthesis were identified. RNA polymerase was identified and purified. Severo Ochoa won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Medicine after he discovered how RNA is synthesized .

14. Imortance of RNA Although RNA does not serve as the hereditary information in most cells, RNA does hold this function for many viruses that do not contain DNA . Rhinoviruses , which cause the common cold ; i nfluenza viruses ; and the Ebola virus are single-stranded RNA viruses. Rotaviruses, which cause severe gastroenteritis in children and other immunocompromised individuals, are examples of double-stranded RNA viruses. Because double-stranded RNA is uncommon in eukaryotic cells, its presence serves as an indicator of viral infection .

15. Discovery of first restriction enzyme (1970) In 1970, for discovery of restriction endonucleases (often called by the shorter name restriction enzymes) Werner Arber , Hamilton Smith , and Daniel Nathans received the 1978 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.

16. Why discovery of restriction enzymes is important? Following things became possible Manipulating, analyzing, and creating new combinations of DNA sequences. DNA cloning Hereditary disease diagnosis, paternity testing Forensics, genomics (e.g., the human genome project), epigenetics, genetically modified organisms, and biotechnology. Indeed, without the discovery of restriction enzymes, the fields of recombinant DNA technology, biotechnology, and genomics as we know them today would not exist .

17. Demonstration of fundamental differences between viroids and viruses (1971) Theodor Otto Diener in 1971, discovered that the causative agent of the potato spindle tuber disease is not a virus, but a novel agent, which consists solely of a short strand of single-stranded RNA without a protein capsid, eighty times smaller than the smallest viruses. He proposed to name it and similar agents to be discovered viroids . which initiated the third major expansion of the biosphere towards smaller living entities. Based on their respective molecular properties, viroids are more plausible “living fossils” of the RNA World, than are intron-derived RNAs.

18. Development of the technique for producing monoclonal antibodies(1975) The successful technology was described for the first time in 1975 Georges Kohler and Cesar Milstein invented it mAbs were produced by hybridoma cells representing a clone arising from a single cell They are used as a research tool, in diagnostics, in medicine for treatment of cancer or in transplantology Though, it is a multistage and time consuming process

19. Nobel prize for developing RIA (1977) Rosalyn Yalow and her co-worker S.A.Berson were awarded the Nobel prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1977 for the development of Radioimmunoassay. Development of RIA stimulated a revolution in theoretical immunology. Investigators used it to screen blood for hepatitis virus in blood banks, determine effective dosage levels drugs and antibiotics, detect foreign substances in blood. This technique is remarkably sensitive and measures incredibly low concentration of substances .

20. The complete DNA sequence of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was first completely sequenced from a eukaryote It was established in 1997 as the work of a worldwide effort of hundreds of researchers S.cerevisiae strain S288C reference genome sequence was updated It provided the general chromosomal organisation as well as protein coding sequences The new version is called ‘S288C 2010’ was determined from a single yeast colony using modern sequence technologies and serves as an anchor for modern innovation in genomic science The complete nucleotide sequence of all of the chromosomes of a eukaryote is reported (yeast)(1997)

21. References: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/structure-and-function-of-rna/ http://www.exploredna.co.uk/the-importance-dna.html https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/development-antihistamines https://www.nature.com/scitable/spotlight/restriction-enzymes-18458113 http://www.conservapedia.com/Biochemistry https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4807594/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00356976