Course

Cell Biochemistry

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Biology
Course code
BIOL 2421
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
The course provides an introduction to the structure and function of biological molecules. Topics covered include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, enzyme kinetics, and energy metabolism. The main metabolic pathways are examined with emphasis on their regulation and integration with the overall functioning of an organism in various physiological situations.
Course content
  1. Water
    • Chemical properties of water
    • Acid-base concepts
    • The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
  2. Protein structure
    • Amino acids, peptides, and proteins
    • Titration curves of amino acids and peptides
    • Protein structure
    • Peptide sequencing
    • Electrophoresis
  3. Protein function
    • Structure, function, and behaviour of myoglobin and hemoglobin
    • The effect of metabolites on hemoglobin function
    • Hemoglobin variants
  4. Enzyme kinetics
    • Enzymes as biological catalysts
    • Reaction rates
    • Specific catalytic groups and their contribution to catalysis
    • The Michaelis-Menten equation
    • Lineweaver-Burk plots
    • Reaction velocities and substrate concentrations using Vmax and Km
    • Reversible and irreversible inhibition
    • Factors affecting enzyme activity
    • Allosteric enzymes
  5. Bioenergetics
    • The laws of thermodynamics
    • Standard and actual free-energy change
    • Equilibrium constants
    • Coupled reactions
    • Phosphate group transfers and ATP
  6. Metabolism
    • Glycolysis
    • The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle or Krebs Cycle
    • Oxidative phosphorylation
    • Mitochondrial shuttle systems
    • Gluconeogenesis
    • Glycogen metabolism - glycogen synthesis and glycogenolysis
    • Lipid metabolism - beta-oxidation and fatty acid synthesis
    • Amino acids and protein metabolism
    • The effects of hormones on metabolism
    • Integration of metabolism
Learning activities

This course involves lectures and in-class activities, such as selecting problems from the textbook to solve collectively.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Quizzes and/or assignments 10-25%
Term project 10-15%
Term examination(s) 20-50%
Final examination 30-40%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Describe the chemistry of water;
  • Describe the properties of acids, bases, and buffers;
  • Describe the structure and acid-base properties of amino acids;
  • Describe the structure of peptides and proteins, and explain how their structure relates to function;
  • Explain how protein sequence is determined;
  • Describe allosteric proteins and explain their importance to biochemical regulation;
  • Describe the structure, function, and behaviour of hemoglobin and myoglobin;
  • Apply the principles of enzyme kinetics to give a quantitative description of the activity and behaviour of enzymes;
  • Explain basic bioenergetic principles as they relate to metabolism in the cell;
  • Describe the structure and function of carbohydrates and lipids;
  • Explain the processes of glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis;
  • Describe the process of gluconeogenesis;
  • Describe glycogen synthesis and glycogenolysis;
  • Discuss the role of hormones in the regulation of cellular metabolism;
  • Describe lipid and nitrogen metabolism;
  • Discuss how catabolic and anabolic pathways integrate in human metabolism.
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials.  Example textbooks and materials may include:

Nelson and Cox.  Current Edition. Lehninger – Principles of Biochemistry.  New York: Worth Publishers.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for BIOL 2421
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX BIOL 2XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO CHEM 255 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU CHEM 215 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU BIOL 2XXX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BIOL 2315 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC BIOL 220 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU MBB 201 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU BIOL 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BIOL 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO BIOL_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV BIOL_V 201 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC CHEM 204 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BIO 2XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC BIOC 299 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU BIOL 201 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
13
Remaining seats:
22
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3903
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20