General Biochemistry C

Objectives

At the end of the semester the student should readily:

Describe the constitution and structure of proteins. Distinguish globular from fibrous proteins. Know several examples  of protein structure-function correlation, including the mechanism of some enzimatic reactions. Know experimental methods for isolating and characterizing proteins. Understand the main concepts on enzyme catalysis and regulation. Interpret enzyme kinetic data and calculate kinetic parameters according to the Michaelis-Menten model. Carry out simple enzyme assays.

Name and describe the constitution, the structure and the function of common carbohydrates. 

Name and describe the constitution and  strucures of DNA and RNA. Describe the  functioning and the regulation of  the replication, transcription and translation steps. Know  the basic procedures of recombinant DNA techniques.

Describe the constitution, structure and properties of biological membranes and the characteristics of the fluid mosaic model. Know the molecular systems associated to biological transport.

Understand the central role of the pair ATP/ADP and of other nucleotides in metabolism. Be familiar with the basic concepts of bioenergetics. Perform quantitative calculations in bioenergetics. Describe the main metabolic pathways in the cell and their regulation, with emphasis on the central metabolic pathway and on photosynthesis. Understand the difference between substrate-level phosphorylation and phosphorylation linked to electron-transfer processes.

Be competent using materials and equipments commonly found in a biochemical lab, as well as acquiring, treating, presenting and discussing experimental results.

General characterization

Code

10348

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Isabel Borges Coutinho Medeiros Dias

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 55

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

LEHNINGER PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Nelson, D.L., & Cox, M.M.
W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 5th ed. 2008

PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Voet, D., Voet, J.G. & Pratt, C.W.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 3rd ed. 2008

BIOCHEMISTRY
Lubert Stryer
W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco.
6th Ed. 2007

Teaching method

Theorical and problem-solving sessions using "datashow" and laboratory practical classes where students will perform  experimental work in groups of three or four people.

 

Evaluation method

The assessment includes two written tests and the evaluation and discussion
 of Lab work. Each  test contributes 37.5% to the final grade and the practical part 
contributes the remaining 25%. Students are aproved when the final 
classification equals or is over 9.5/20. 

Subject matter

 

Proteins. Methods for protein separation and characterization. Examples of  structure-function correlation in proteins. Introductory enzymology. Nucleic acids. Storage and transmission of genetic information.  Topics on genetic engineering. Carbohydrate structure and glycobiology. Lipids. Biological membranes and transport.

Principles of metabolism. Bioenergetics. Glycolysis and fermentations. The TCA cycle. Cellular respiration,  electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation.  Photosynthesys and photophosphorylation.

Practical  laboratory work:

 Separation of proteins by cromatography. Assessmernt of the activity of the enzyme lactase.