Biochemical Foundations of Human Vital Activity - Volkov, N.I., Nesen, E.N. 2000

Biochemical Foundations of Human Vital Activity
Introduction to Biochemistry
Subject and Research Methods of Biochemistry

Biological chemistry is the science that uncovers the Chemical foundations of living organisms. Its core Subjects of Study include the Qualitative and quantitative Chemical composition of living systems; the Transformation of substances that make up the Organism and enter it from the external environment during cellular METABOLISM; and the correlation between these biochemical transformations and normal physiological Functions, as well as various bodily states (such as athletic performance, pathology, radiation exposure, and other environmental factors).

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Fig. 1 Organization OF THE organism as a single integrated system: a — organism; b — Muscles; c — Muscle tissue; d — muscle fiber; e — myofibril; f — organelle (mitochondrion); g — submolecular complex (mitochondrial membrane); h — cytochrome protein macromolecule

While many fundamental principles governing chemical composition, molecular Structure, and Metabolic pathways are shared across All living organisms, notable differences exist in the biochemical processes sustaining plants, animals, and humans. For instance, plants synthesize complex Organic compounds from simple inorganic precursors—such as Water, carbon dioxide, and mineral nutrients—while capturing solar energy via Photosynthesis. Animals and humans, by contrast, rely on the intake of complex organic molecules—CARBOHYDRATES, Lipids, and Proteins—which are essential for structural integrity and energy provision. Consequently, depending on the subject of study, biochemistry is divided into several branches: animal and human biochemistry, plant biochemistry, and microbial and viral biochemistry.

Biochemistry addresses numerous theoretical and practical issues across medicine, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, agriculture, and modern biotechnology. The latter enables The production of novel substances, including Pharmaceuticals used for disease Treatment and Prevention, restorative agents, and Applications tailored for professional sports.

The Study of biochemistry is fundamental to understanding physiological processes, as all bodily functions are rooted in chemical alterations within Organs and Tissues. Furthermore, this knowledge is vital for sports medicine, as it elucidates the mechanisms of pathological states, the action of recovery and pharmacological agents, and the Methods for biochemical Diagnosis of an athlete's training status and overall physiological condition.

One of the paramount tasks of modern biochemistry is to investigate the Specific features of biochemical processes and their regulatory mechanisms that facilitate organismal adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for preventing the onset of pathological conditions and enabling the timely correction of metabolic processes.

Physical exertion alters Metabolism and Energy turnover alongside their regulatory mechanisms, forming the foundation of the body's metabolic adaptation to exercise (training). Investigating these adaptive metabolic shifts provides insight into how the organism adapts to physical stress, helping to identify effective methods and recovery strategies to enhance physical performance.

The Regularities of Metabolism during athletic activity are studied by Sports Biochemistry, a specialized branch of functional biochemistry. Key areas of investigation include:

✵ energy supply mechanisms during muscular activity;

✵ Protein Biosynthesis under various types of physical loads;

✵ molecular foundations of organismal adaptation to Physical Exercise;

✵ regulatory mechanisms of metabolism;

✵ metabolic bases of fatigue and recovery following physical exertion;

✵ identification of biochemical criteria for evaluating training efficiency and states of overtraining or system overload;

✵ biochemical principles underlying rational athlete Nutrition and The Use of special (ergogenic) AIDS to accelerate recovery and boost performance;

✵ application of biochemical diagnostic methods in sports practice.

Mastering these topics not only enhances the training efficiency of elite athletes but also safeguards their long-term health and athletic longevity.

Research Methods. Research methods utilized in biochemistry can be broadly categorized into precise laboratory assays and rapid screening (express) methods.

Laboratory methods encompass a wide array of Physical and Chemical techniques requiring sophisticated instrumentation—such as electrophotocolorimeters, spectrophotometers, fluorimeters, gas and spectral analyzers, and ultracentrifuges—as well as controlled laboratory environments. The principal laboratory methods include:

✵ qualitative and quantitative Analysis of the composition of Blood, urine, saliva, exhaled air, and other biological samples using various methodological approaches;

✵ Electrophoresis, which separates substances using an electric field within specialized apparatuses, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 Gel electrophoresis apparatus: 1 — buffer; 2 — anode; 3 — cathode; 4 — sample

Fig. 3 Diagram of protein Separation by Ion-exchange Chromatography: 1 — chromatographic Column; 2 — sample; 3 — buffer solution

✵ chromatography, which allows proteins with different molecular weights and mobilities to be separated using sorbents: samples are applied to special sorbents in chromatographic columns and then eluted (washed out) with a buffer; the eluates are collected in test tubes and analyzed for the presence of individual proteins, as shown schematically in Fig. 3;

✵ X-Ray Diffraction and spectral analyses, which make it possible to determine Changes in the molecular structure of substances under various influences, such as the action of anabolic agents;

✵ autoradiography (tracer technique), which allows metabolic features in the body to be determined through the Introduction of radioactive isotopes of carbon (¹⁴С), phosphorus (³²Р), sulfur (³⁵S), calcium (⁴⁵Са), iodine (¹³J), and others;

✵ immunological method, which allows very minor changes in substance concentrations to be detected, for example, during the latent phase of fatigue (overtraining, The impact of physical loads), as well as in the onset of diseases caused by infectious agents or allergens;

✵ cytobiophysical method, which makes it possible to determine a person's energy status and biological age based on the bioelectrical properties of epithelial Cell nuclei.

Rapid methods allow biochemical analyses of blood, urine, and other biological fluids to be performed quickly using special chemical test kits without The Need for complex equipment. These methods are widely used in sports practice, medicine, and everyday life.