Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

Introduction • Explain the scientific theory of the origin of life, define evolution and interpret phylogenetic trees • Review thermodynamics, intermolecular forces, the hydrophobic effect, and the properties of water Protein structure and function • Draw the structure of amino acids at a given pH and discuss the chemistry of the peptide bond • Describe all four levels of protein structure and protein folding • Describe and recognize different protein purification, analysis and sequencing strategies • Describe the biochemical action of muscles, myofibrils and myosin-actin Enzymatic catalysis, kinetics, inhibition and control • Define enzyme, substrate, cofactors, allosteric, enzyme catalysis and enzyme inhibition • Describe enzymatic activity from an energetic standpoint and explain how enzymes work • Perform calculations for enzyme kinetics Carbohydrates • Describe the chemical structure of carbohydrates • Describe lactose, sucrose, cellulose, and the “glycogens” in terms of structure and function Introduction to metabolism • Give an overview of metabolism in terms of free energy, nutrition, thermodynamics, and flux • Explain the concept of a high-energy compound such as ATP, acetyl-CoA • Describe how oxidation-reduction plays a role in metabolism • Review and integrate the oxidative and biosynthetic metabolic pathways • Describe the role of insulin, glucagon, and catecholamines in coordinating metabolism Glucose catabolism, glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis • Explain glycolysis in full stepwise detail and discuss its regulation • Describe the physiological relevance of the pentose phosphate pathway • Discuss the pathway of glycogen metabolism and storage and gluconeogenesis Citric acid cycle • Discuss the citric acid cycle, its enzymes and its regulation and the special role of acetyl-CoA Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation • Describe the electron transport system, proton gradients, and ATP synthesis • Explain the overall structure and the basic function and mechanism of ATP synthase Photosynthesis • Describe the structure of chloroplasts and the sequence of photosynthesis for cyanobacteria and plants