High-Yield Biochemistry mnemonics
Bio-chemistry we know is the toughest of subjects in the field of medicine related to memorizing. This article will help you memorize this deadly subject in a fun learning way with the help of these High-Yield Biochemistry mnemonics.
B vitamin names High-Yield
“The Rhythm Nearly Proved Contagious”:
In increasing order:
Thiamine (B1)
Riboflavin (B2)
Niacin (B3)
Pyridoxine (B6)
Cobalamin (B12)
Essential amino acids High-Yield
“PVT. TIM HALL always argues, never tires”:
Phe
Val
Thr
Trp
Ile
Met
His
Arg
Lue
Lys
Always argues: the A is for Arg, not Asp.
‘Never tires’: T is not Tyr, but is both Thr and Trp.
Fasting state: branched-chain amino acids used by skeletal muscles
“Muscles LIVe fast”:
Leucine
Isoleucine
Valine
Folate deficiency: causes
A FOLIC DROP:
Alcoholism
Folic acid antagonists
Oral contraceptives
Low dietary intake
Infection with Giardia
Celiac sprue
Dilatin
Relative folate deficiency
Old
Pregnant
Glycogen storage: Anderson’s (IV) vs. Cori’s (III) enzyme defect High-Yield
ABCD:
Anderson’s=Branching enzyme.
Cori’s=Debranching enzyme.
Otherwise, can’t really distinguish clinically.
Glycogen storage: names of types I through VI High-Yield
“Viagra Pills Cause AMajor Hardon”:
Von Gierke’s
Pompe’s
Cori’s
Anderson’s
McArdle’s
Her’s
Glycolysis steps High-Yield
“Goodness Gracious, Father Franklin Did Go By Picking Pumpkins (to) Prepare Pies”:
Glucose
Glucose-6-P
Fructose-6-P
Fructose-1,6-diP
Dihydroxyacetone-P
Glyceraldehyde-P
1,3-Biphosphoglycerate
3-Phosphoglycerate
2-Phosphoglycerate (to)
Phosphoenolpyruvate [PEP]
Pyruvate
‘Did’, ‘By’ and ‘Pies’ tell you the first part of those three: di-, bi-, and py-.
‘PrEPare’ tells location of PEP in the process.
Hypervitaminosis A: signs and symptoms High-Yield
“Increased Vitamin A makes you HARD”:
Headache/ Hepatomegaly
Anorexia/ Alopecia
Really painful bones
Dry skin/ Drowsiness
Infantile Beriberi symptoms High-Yield
Restlessness
Sleeplessness
Breathlessness
Soundlessness (aphonia)
Eatlessness (anorexia)
Great heartedness (dilated heart)
Alternatively: Get 5 of ’em with BERI: Breathless/ Big hearted, Eatless, Restless, Insomnia.
Phosphorylation cascade: action during low glucose
“In the Phasted State, Phosphorylate”:
The phosphorylation cascade becomes active when blood glucose is low.
Type 1 glycogen storage disease High-Yield
Type 1 = one (Von), ie Von Giereke’s disease
Van den Bergh reaction (Jaundice test) High-Yield
“Indirect reacting bilirubin = Unconjugated bilirubin”:
Both start with vowels, so they go together: Indirect & Unconjugated.
Vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinic acid) deficiency: pellagra High-Yield
The 3 D’s of pellagra:
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Dementia
Note vitamin B3 is the 3 D’s.
Vitamins: which are fat soluble High-Yield
KADE:
Vitamin K
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Coagulation common pathway: factors in order High-Yield
10 + 5 – 2 = 13
Coagulation common pathway:
Factor X to Factor V to Factor II to Factor XIII
Fabry’s disease High-Yield
FABRY’S:
Foam cells found in glomeruli and tubules/ Febrile episodes
Alpha galactosidase A deficiency/ Angiokeratomas
Burning pain in extremities/ BUN increased in serum/ Boys
Renal failure
YX genotype (male, X linked recessive)
Sphingolipidoses
Hemoglobin binding curve: causes of the shift to right High-Yield
“CADET, face right!”:
CO2
Acid
2,3-DPG (aka 2,3 BPG)
Exercise
Temperature
Porphyrias: acute intermittent porphyria symptoms High-Yield
5 P’s:
Pain in abdomen
Polyneuropathy
Psychologial abnormalities
Pink urine
Precipitated by drugs (eg barbiturates, oral contraceptives, sulpha drugs)
Sickle cell disease pathophysiology
SICKle cell disease is due to a Substitution of the SICKsth amino acid of the B chain.
Vitamin K dependent cofactors High-Yield
“Several Tend To Nicely Stop Clots”:
Factor Seven, Ten, Two, Nine.
Protein S, Protein C.
Adrenaline mechanism
“ABC of Adrenaline”:
Adrenaline–> activates Beta receptors–> increases Cyclic AMP
Insulin: function High-Yield
INsulIN stimulates 2 things to go
IN 2 cells: Potassium and Glucose.
BUN:creatinine elevation: causes High-Yield
ABCD:
Azotremia (pre-renal)
Bleeding (GI)
Catabolic status
Diet (high protein parenteral nutrition)
G6PD: oxidant drugs inducing hemolytic anemia High-Yield
AAA:
Antibiotic (eg: sufamethoxazole)
Antimalarial (eg: primaquine)
Antipyretics (eg: acetanilid, but not aspirin or acetaminophen)
Carbon monoxide: electron transport chain target
“CO blocks CO”:
Carbon monoxide (CO) blocks Cytochrome Oxidase (CO)
Citric acid cycle compounds High-Yield
“Can I Keep Selling Sex For Money, Officer?”:
Citrate
Isocitrate
alpha Ketogluterate
Succinyl CoA
Succinate
Fumerate
Malate
Oxaloacetate
DNA bond strength (nucleotides)
“Crazy Glue”:
Strongest bonds are between Cytosine and Guanine, strong like Crazy Glue (3 H-bonds), whereas the A=T only have 2 H-bonds.
This is relevant to DNA replication, as the weaker A=T will be the site where RNA primer makes the initial break.
Electron transport chain: Rotenone’s site of action High-Yield
Rotenone is a site specific inhibitor of complex one.
Enzyme kinetics: competitive vs. non-competitive inhibition High-Yield
With Kompetitive inhibition: Km increases; no change in Vmax.
With Non-kompetitive inhibition: No change in Km; Vmax decreases.
Enzymes: classification High-Yield
“Over The HILL”:
Oxidoreductases
Transferases
Hydrolases
Isomerases
Ligases
Lyases
Enzymes get reaction over the hill. See diagram.
Enzymes: competitive inhibitors High-Yield
“Competition is hard because we have to travel more kilometers (Km) with the same velocity”:
With competitive inhibitors, velocity remains same but Km increases
G protein type for respective receptors
“KISS and KICK till you’re SICK of SEX” (QISS and QIQ till you’re SIQ of SQS):
This gives the G-protein type (Gq, Gi, or Gs) for all the receptors. Receptors are in alphabetical order:
alpha1=Q
alpha2=I
beta1=S
beta3=S
M1=Q
M2=I
M3=Q
D1=S
D2=I
H1=Q
H2=S
V1=Q
V2=S
Metabolism sites
“Use both arms to HUG”:
Heme synthesis
Urea cycle
Gluconeogenesis
These reactions occur in both cytoplasm and mitochondria.
Na/K pump: concentrations of Na vs. K on inside/outside of cell, pump action, number of molecules moved High-Yield
HIKIN’:
There is a HIgh K concentration INside the cell.
From this can deduce that the Na/K pump pumps K into cell and Na out of cell.
Alternatively: When I was learning this pump (circa 1992), a band that was “in” was Kris Kross, and a band that was “out” was “Sha Na
Na Na”:
So pump moves K K (2 K) in and Na Na Na (3 Na) out.
Sadly, as infectious as their debut album was, Kris Kross can really no longer be classed as “in”.
Na+/K+ pump: movement of ions and quantity High-Yield
K+ and in each consist of 2 characters, so so 2 K+ are pumped in.
Na+ and out each consist of 3 characters, so 3 Na+ are pumped out.
Phenylketonuria: which enzyme is deficient High-Yield
PHenylketonuria is caused by a deficiency of:
Phenylalanine
Hydroxylase
Pompe’s disease: type High-Yield
“Police = Po + lys”:
Pompe’s disease is a lysosomal storage disease (alpha 1,4 glucosidase).
Pyruvate: products of complete oxidation High-Yield
“4 Naked Fun 3 Coeds + 1 Guy”:
Complete oxidation of pyruvate yields:
4 NADH
FADH2
3 CO2
1 GTP
Tangier’s disease: hallmark
“Tangierene tonsils”:
Hallmark is large orange tonsils.
Important clinical note: there is no increased risk of atherosclerosis, just like eating tangerenes.
These were all the mnemonics I could come up with for this tough subject, If you have any questions or useful information, add them in the comments section below
In the meantime here are some other
THANKYOU
