Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
BB10004 Biochemistry 2 |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX 70%, MC 10%, PR 20% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take BB10003 |
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Aims & Learning Objectives: To set out the central pathways of glycogen and fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial oxidation and how these are regulated. To inculcate appreciation of the metabolic pathways into function at the organ level. To teach the implications of stereochemistry into the biochemistry of key metabolic intermediates. To outline the structure, biosynthesis and metabolic importance of glycoproteins and of mucopolysaccharides. After taking this course the student should be able to: * describe and explain the principles of mitochondrial oxidative function * describe and explain lipid structure and the pathways of fatty acid oxidation and synthesis * describe glycogen metabolism and explain how it is regulated by the hormones adrenalin and insulin and by metabolic substrates * describe the structure and function of mucopolysaccharides * describe the basic structural pattern of glycoproteins * explain the stereochemistry of small organic molecules of biological importance and draw their structures in different ways. Content: The course is a direct follow-on from BB10003. Topics studied are: 1) mitochondrial bioenergetics, respiration, oxidative phosphorylation and the chemiosmotic theory; 2) lipid metabolism - structure of lipids, catabolism and anabolism of fatty acids, ketogenesis and coordination with other metabolic pathways; 3) glycogen structure, biosynthesis and catabolism; 4) stereochemistry of simple carbohydrates and citric acid cycle intermediates with applications of biochemical mechanisms; 5) regulation of glycogen metabolism by hormones; 6) relationship between mucopolysaccharide structure and function and distribution; 7) common structural patterns of glycoproteins. |