Speakers

Prof. JoAnne Stubbe, PhD • Prof. John M. Essigmann, PhD

Summary

Biochemical reactions, the cornerstone of metabolism, involve the transformation of substances within living cells to produce energy and maintain life. MIT Professor JoAnne Stubbe, a renowned biochemist, presents the Lexicon of Biochemical Reactions to illuminate this complex world.

Stubbe, who dedicated her career to studying ribonucleotide reductases—essential enzymes for DNA replication and repair—focuses on the crucial role of vitamins in cellular chemistry. Her work explains how these nutrients provide enzymes that act as catalysts for numerous biological processes.

The lexicon offers valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms that sustain life at the cellular level, from the chemistry behind vitamins to the intricate workings of DNA-related enzymes. Stubbe’s research, which has implications for drug development, bridges the gap between basic biochemical knowledge and its practical applications in medicine. This comprehensive guide serves as a key resource for understanding the complex world of cellular metabolism and its broader impact on human health.

Be sure to watch the videos explaining how the chemistry of vitamins works and download the fantastic pdf reference to key biochemical reactions, that covers everything from Redox cofactors, ATP and phosphoryl transfer reactions, SAMe, CoQ10, all the way to Folate and it’s one carbon transfers. You can even download the 22nd (2003) edition of the IUBMB-Sigma-Nicholson Metabolic Pathways Chart, which remains a comprehensive resource for understanding metabolic reactions, distinguished by color coding and enzyme commission numbers​.

This lexicon appears as part of the 5.07SC Undergraduate Biological Chemistry I course; the entire course including Syllabus, Calendar, Readings, Lecture Videos, Recitations, and Study Materials is downloadable for free on MIT OpenCourseWare.