Course Description
This course is a rigorous introduction to the study of protein molecules and their role as catalysts in the cell.Topics include general principles of protein folding, protein structure-function correlation, enzyme kineticsand mechanism, carbohydrate and lipid biochemistry, metabolic pathways - catabolic and anabolic - and their interaction and cross-regulation. Biological transformation of energy is considered in light of the principles of thermodynamics. Prereq. Biol 210, Chem 302; 2 meetings (75 minutes), 1 discussion (50 minutes), 1 lab (4 hours); 4 credits.
Text: Biochemistry, by Voet and Voet, 2nd Ed.
| Week | Chapter Reading | Topic |
| 1 | 1 & 2 | Biochemistry: Introduction Aqueous Solutions: Properties of Water |
| 2 | 2,4 & 7 | Acids, Bases, Buffers & pKa's Amino Acids: Dissociation Properties; pI Determination Protein Structure: 1o, 2o, 3o, 4o |
| 3 | 7, 3, 8 & 6 | Protein Folding: Principles Protein Folding: Thermodynamics, & Kinetics Protein Sequencing |
| 4 | 9 | Hemoglobin vs. Myoglobin: Structure & Function
Allosteric Regulation |
| 5 | 10 & 11 | Sugars & Polysaccharides Glycoconjugates Fatty Acids & Complex Lipids |
| 6 | 11 | Biological Membranes Exam 1 |
| 7 | 12 & 13 | Enzymes: Introduction Rate Laws: Chemical Kinetics Enzyme Kinetics |
| 8 | 13 &14 | Enzyme Inhibition Catalytic Mechanisms Lysozyme & Serine Proteases |
| 9 | 3, 15 & 16 | Metabolism: An Overview Principles of Thermodynamics in Metabolism Glycolysis & Gluconeogenesis |
| 10 | 16, 17 & 21 | Glycogen Metabolism Control of Metabolic Flux Exam 2 |
| 11 | 19 & 20 | Citric Acid Cycle Structure & Function of Coenzymes Electron Transport Chain & Oxidative Phosphorylation |
| 12 | 20 | Chemiosmotic Model of ATP Production |
| 13 | 20, 21 & 23 | Respiratory Control Pentose Phosphate Shunt; Glyoxylate Cycle Fatty Acid Metabolism |
| 14 | 24 & 25 | Amino Acid Metabolism: Glycogenic vs. Ketogenic Nitrogen Utilization & the Urea Cycle |
Lab Instructor: J. O'Rourke
Clapp 306
| Week | Laboratory Exercise |
| 1 | Spectrophotometry: Spectral Scanning, e Determination |
| 2 | pH and Buffers: Problem Solving Session |
| 3 | pH Lab: Buffer Preparation, Glycine Titration, pI Determination |
| 4 | Molecular Sieve (Gel Exclusion) Chromatography |
| 5 | No Lab (October Break) |
| 6 | Enzymatic Assays: GalK and LDH |
| 7 | Enzyme Purification I: Alkaline Phosphatase |
| 8 | Enzyme Purification II: Alkaline Phosphatase |
| 9 | Enzyme Purification III: Alkaline Phosphatase |
| 10 | SDS-PAGE; Phast Gel Analysis |
| 11 | No Lab (Thanksgiving Break) |
| 12 | Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition |
| 13 | Mitochondrial Respiration |
All lab reports are due one week after the experiment; each is worth 20 points. The exception is the unit on enzyme purification (weeks of 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, and 11/16); this experiment should be written up as one report worth 80 points.
This problem set is contained in a PDF file. Please use Acrobat Reader 3.0 to open it.
Enzyme Kinetics
Reaction Thermodynamics
Redox Potential