BCH 4024 - Biochemistry

College of Natural Sciences

Credit(s): 4
Contact Hours: 62
Effective Term Fall 2024 (640)

Requisites

Prerequisite CHM 2211 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite PCB 3063 with a minimum grade of C

Course Description

This course is an introduction to biochemistry and intermediary metabolism. Topics include an overview of chemical interactions in aqueous environments, properties of water, acids, bases, buffers and the laws of thermodynamics. Additional topics include surveys of structure, functional properties, synthesis, degradation and chemistry of the major groups of biologically important organic molecules (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids). Topics include enzyme kinetics and mechanisms of catalysis, a survey of the pathways of carbohydrate, lipid and nitrogen metabolism and their metabolic control, and the role of metabolic pathway integration in physiological homeostasis; regulation of gene expression at the level of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. This course will include discussion sessions and problem solving of experimental data that teach interpretation of current biochemical theories and techniques.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will illustrate the basic principles of protein structure and function by:
    1. identifying, comparing, and contrasting all 20 amino acids and classifying them according to their properties.
    2. defining primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure.
    3. identifying alpha helix and beta sheet in representations of backbone traces and ribbon diagrams.
    4. describing how protein structure is related to function by explaining the roles of hemoglobin in oxygen transport, and actin- myosin in muscle function.
  2. The student will illustrate the basic principles of nucleic acid structure and function by:
    1. explaining the differences between purines and pyrimidines and between bases, nucleosides and nucleotides.
    2. listing and describing the differences between DNA and RNA.
    3. explaining the ways the differences between DNA and RNA affect the function and behavior of nucleic acids.
    4. explaining the processes of replication, transcription and translation.
  3. The student will demonstrate the basic principles of carbohydrate structure and function by:
    1. explaining the structure and properties of monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and complex carbohydrates.
    2. describe the differences between the pyranose and furanose ring structures.
    3. identifying types of glycosidic bonds.
    4. describing various complex carbohydrate forms including glycogen, starch, dextran, cellulose, glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and lectins.
  4. The student will exemplify the basic principles of lipid structure and function by:
    1. describing the distribution and biological importance of fats and fatty acids.
    2. explaining the chemical properties and characterization of various lipids including waxes, phospholipids and proteolipids.
    3. describing the role of steroids, bile salts and prostaglandins in cell function.
  5. The student will explain enzymatic reactions and apply chemical principles to examine sources of energy used to drive these reactions by:
    1. describing the function of enzymes in chemical reactions.
    2. comparing and contrasting the mechanisms of inhibition in competitive, uncompetitive and noncompetitive inhibitors.
    3. illustrating how these mechanisms result in changes in enzyme kinetics.
    4. describing the principles of Gibb’s free energy.
    5. analyzing the significance of kcat, Vmax and Km for enzyme kinetics.
    6. demonstrating and analyzing the principles of Michaelis–Menten equation and the Lineweaver-Burk plot.
  6. The student will explain how metabolism is integrated within an organism by:
    1. describing the role of feedback inhibition on metabolic pathway.
    2. illustrating how metabolite segregation within organelle compartments controls metabolic activity.
    3. describing how AMP activated protein kinase, the cellular energy sensor, regulates overall energy balance in cells.
    4. explaining how different organic molecules (glycogen, lipid or protein) are used by cellular tissues as fuel.
    5. explaining the mechanisms used by eukaryotes and prokaryotes to regulate gene expression.
    6. describing the role of alternate splicing and post translational modifications in eukaryotic proteome variability.
  7. The student will compare and contrast the techniques of biochemistry, including an understanding of how experiments are conducted, what real data looks like and how they are interpreted by:
    1. calculating pH and buffer formulations.
    2. describing the thermodynamics of biochemical enzyme reactions.
    3. using regression equations to accurately determine protein concentrations.
    4. analyzing Southern, Northern and Western blot data.
    5. analyzing enzyme kinetic data and the effects of inhibitors on Lineweaver-Burk plots.
  8. The student will interpret scientific data to gain confidence and skill in problem-solving techniques by:
    1. integrating knowledge and making informed judgments about biochemistry in everyday life.
    2. using critical thinking skills to produce and present a report on a molecule of biochemical importance based on analysis of various proteomic and molecular biological databases.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of the above stated objectives through measurements developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 3/23/2010, BOT 4/21/2010, Effective 20093(0425).
C&I Approval: 02/17/2024, BOT Approval: 03/19/2024, Effective Term: Fall 2024 (640)

Related Programs

  1. Biology (BIOLOGY-BS) (670) (Active)
  2. Biology (BIOLOGY-BS) (640) (Draft)
  3. Laboratory Specialist (LAB-ATC) (670) (Active)