Biochemistry

Chemistry 4711

Fall 2006

 

Lecture:            9:00 - 9:50 MWF

Instructor:         Dr. John E. Hansen

Office:              Chemistry 2126;   Phone: 678 839-2106;   email: jhansen@westga.edu

Office Hrs:        10:00 - 2:00 M,W;  11:00 – 1:00 T

Text:                 Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 4th Edition by Nelson and Cox

 

Course Objectives

CHM 4711/5611 is a semester-long biochemistry course designed for chemistry, premed and predental students. Material covered during this course includes structure and function of proteins, enzyme kinetics, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and intermediary metabolism. Lectures will follow the first 21 chapters of the text. However, material will be covered  in lectures to augment that in the text. You will be responsible for material covered in both lectures and text.

 

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will develop an understanding of the chemical basis for biological systems.  They will demonstrate there understanding of  the physical properties of biopolymers, complex interactions between biomolecules, enzyme kinetics, and the chemistry and regulation of metabolic pathways.

 

Expectations

It is my desire that each of you will succeed in this course.  I will try to help you in anyway I can.  It is vitally important you keep up with the material. I have found, without exception, those that received a grade of A or B in this course have been those that have consistently done the homework and took it seriously.  Please see me if you are having difficulties.  This course will require a minimum of six hours a week of outside studying.

 

The prerequisites for this course are organic and analytical chemistry.  If you had difficulties in those courses, you will find this course particularly difficult and you will need to put forth even more study time.  NOTE:  It is a requirement, and it will be assumed, that you are fluent and very comfortable with algebra.  Further, you should have had some calculus – it will make understanding some of the principles easier.

 

WAC Course

Chemistry 4711 has been designated a WAC (Writing Across the Curriculum) course.  This means that there is a writing component as part of this course that must be successfully completed to receive a passing grade.  The writing requirement will consist of a case study.

 

Examinations

I will give five exams (each 50 minutes in length) throughout the semester. I will not give makeup exams. You will have one week from the time the exam is handed back to inquire about the grading. After that week the grade on the exam is final. The final exam will be a comprehensive examination (covering material throughout the course).

 

Grading

The final grade will be determined from the five exams, the final exam, and case study.  Each exam will count 100 points, the final exam 150 points. Grades will be calculated based on a maximum of 600 points.

Grade Scale:  > 90% = A; 80 - 90% = B; 70 - 80% = C; 60 - 70% = D; < 60% = F

 

Policies

1. You are responsible for all material covered and all announcements made in

    class. Absence from class does not excuse or relieve you of this responsibility.

2. Cheating will not be tolerated.  On the first occurrence it will result in a grade of zero

    for the exercise in question.  A second occurrence will result in a grade of F for the

    course.  All out of class assignments will be done in the absence of any collaboration 

    from others.  Any questions, clarifications, or requests for assistance should be directed 

    only to me.

3. No make-up exams will be given. Anyone not able to take an exam on the day 

    scheduled must contact me before the exam.

4. Your attendance at all class times is critical to your success in this course.  I reserve the

    right to withdraw you from class roles due to flagrant absences or tardiness.

5. NO CELL PHONES!!  I do not want to see them.  I do not want to hear them.  Prior to

    entering the classroom, you will place your cell phones in your backpacks and leave them

    there until after class.  Violation of this rule will result in immediate dismissal from that 

    day’s class, if during an exam – a grade of zero.

 

 

 

 

TENTATIVE  SCHEDULE

 

                                             Chapters

8/14                 Introduction: Biomolecules, Weak Acids, Amino Acids                        

8/16                 Amino Acids and Peptides                               

 

8/21                 Protein Structure                                                                                  

8/23                 Protein Structure and Purification                     

8/25                 Myoglobin & Hemoglobin                                                                                

 

8/28                 Protein Structure & Enzymes                                                                           

8/30                 Exam I

9/01                 Enzyme Reactions and Enzyme Kinetics                                                                       

           

9/06                 Enzyme Inhibition                                                                                 

9/08                 Bisubstrate kinetics, allosterism , & regulation                                       

           

9/11                 Carbohydrates                                     

9/13                 Carbohydrates                                                                         

9/15                 Nucleic Acids

                       

9/18                 Lipids

9/20                 Exam II

9/22                 Membranes

 

9/25                 Transport

9/27                 Biosignaling

9/29                 Bioenergetics

                       

10/02               Glycolysis I                  

10/04               Glycolysis II                            

10/06               Fate of Pyruvate / Entry of other carbohydrates into glycolysis

 

                                   

10/11               Exam III  & First Draft of Case Study Due

10/13               Regualtion of glycolysis

 

10/16               Pentose Phosphate

10/18               Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex and Cirtic Acid Cycle I

10/20               Citric Acid Cycle II

                       

10/23               Regulation/ CAC a source of biosynthetic intermediates

10/25               Electron Transport

10/27               Oxidative Phosphorylation       

           

10/30               Exam IV                    

11/01               Lipid Metablism

11/03               Fatty Acid Oxidation

 

11/06               Fatty Acid Oxidation

11/08               Ketone Body formation/ Regulation

11/10               Urea cycle

 

11/13               Amino acid oxidation

11/15               Amino acid oxidation

11/17               Gluconeogenesis/ regulation

 

11/20               Exam V

 

11/27               Glycogen Biosynthesis & Regulation/ Lipid Biosynthesis

11/29               Synthesis of Fatty acids and triglycerides

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTARY  TEXTS (recommended, not required)

 

Schaum’s Outline Series Theory and Problems of Biochemistry, McGraw Hill

Book Co. 1988.

BIOCHEMISTRY  by Stryer

BIOCHEMISTRY by Voet and Voet

BIOCHEMICAL  CALCULATIONS  by Segel

PRINCIPLES  OF  BIOCHEMISTRY  by White, Handler and Smith

PROTEINS by Creighton

ENZYME  STRUCTURE  AND  MECHANISM by Fersht