Biochemistry Mnemonics

The best biochem mnemonics for medical student finals, OSCEs and MRCP

• Citric acid cycle components (Oh! Can I Keep Some Succinate For Myself?)

  • Oxaloacetate
  • Citrate
  • Isocitrate
  • Ketoglutanate
  • Succinyl CoA
  • Succinate
  • Fumarate
  • Malate

• Purines (Guardian Angels are Pure with two wings)

  • Guanine and Adenine are Purines with two rings

• Branched chain amino acids (LEVIS)

  • LEucine
  • Valine
  • ISoleucine

• Niacin deficiency (4 D’s)

  • Diarrhoea
  • Dermatitis
  • Dementia
  • Death (if untreated)

• Causes of metabolic acidosis with raised anion gap (MUDPILES)

  • Methanol
  • Uraemia
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (and alcoholic/starvation ketoacidosis)
  • Propylene glycol
  • Isoniazid
  • Lactate
  • Ethylene glycol
  • Salicylates