Print Page
Biochemistry-Theory and Principles (CHEM 2610)
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Credits:
3
Description:
This course introduces the fundamental principles in biochemistry. You will learn the structure and function of biomolecules, kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, major metabolic pathways that synthesize and degrade biomolecules, and the storage and transmission of genetic information in organisms.
Topical Outline:
1. Review of chemical concepts as applied to biochemistry (intermolecular forces, pH, equilibrium, properties of water, thermodynamics and chemical reactions in biological systems)
2. Structure and functions of biologically importance molecules (amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleotides and nucleic acids), Storage and transmission of genetic information in organisms
3. Proteins of the blood (albumin, lipoproteins, immunoglobulins and immune response, fibrinogens, hemoglobin)
4. Biological membranes and types of transport, biosignaling pathways
5. Enzymes, their specificity, kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions and Mechanisms of enzyme actions, inhibitors, conenzymes structures and function
6. Major metabolic pathways that synthesize and degrade biomolecules (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis and metabolic integration)
Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate understanding at the upper division level, the biochemical terms and concepts that interpret biological phenomena, providing examples of central role of biochemistry in diverse fields and applications
2. Identify how different factors influence biochemical mechanisms, enzyme kinetics, macromolecular structure and stability, protein folding (properties of water, intermolecular forces, pH and buffers, chemical reactions, thermodynamics, salts, etc.)
3. Explain the function of biomolecules (amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides and nucleic acids), differentiate between secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins and describe the functions of blood proteins
4. Demonstrate understanding of enzymes and enzyme kinetics – by classifying enzymes, enzyme catalyzed reactions, interpreting enzyme kinetics mechanisms, inhibitions and allosteric interactions, and mathematical derivation of key constants
5. Describe the chemical basis and overall fundamentals of metabolism, classification of metabolic pathways, high energy compounds and integration of metabolic pathways
6. Utilizing chemical structures, explain in detail, the major metabolic pathways and the importance of their regulated steps, associated thermodynamic aspects, activators and inhibitors, significance in metabolic disorders
Prerequisites:
BIOL 2200 and
CHEM 2204
Co-requisites:
CHEM 2620