Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
BIOL 2421
Descriptive
Cell Biochemistry
Department
Biology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours
Lecture: 4 hours/week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities
This course involves lectures and in-class activities, such as selecting problems from the textbook to solve collectively.
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
- Water
- Chemical properties of water
- Acid-base concepts
- The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
- Protein structure
- Amino acids, peptides, and proteins
- Titration curves of amino acids and peptides
- Protein structure
- Peptide sequencing
- Electrophoresis
- Protein function
- Structure, function, and behaviour of myoglobin and hemoglobin
- The effect of metabolites on hemoglobin function
- Hemoglobin variants
- 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
- Bioenergetics
- The laws of thermodynamics
- Standard and actual free-energy change
- Equilibrium constants
- Coupled reactions
- Phosphate group transfers and ATP
- 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 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.
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% |
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.