Biochemistry II BSC203

Strengthen your knowledge on Biochemistry and further your career in Health and Life Sciences. This course goes deeper into every type of molecule that is important for animal life. Discover the importance of enzymes, amino acids and proteins, lipids and fatty acids, carbohydrates and polisaccharids, hormones, vitamins, and nucleic acids.

Course Structure: Biochemistry II BSC203

1. Introduction to Biochemical Molecules
2. Amino Acids
3. Structure of Proteins
4. Protein Dynamics
5. Sugars and Polysaccharides
6. Lipids (Fats) and Membranes
7. Enzymes, Vitamins and Hormones
8. DNA and RNA
9. Laboratory Techniques

Aims: Biochemistry II BSC203

• Learn the characteristics of biochemical molecules and to distinguish between different groups of biochemical molecules
• Describe the structural characteristics and other properties that differentiate standard amino acids one from another
• Learn about the structures of different proteins (both covalent and 3-dimensional)
• Describe common protein dynamics including folding, structural evolution and haemoglobin function
• Describe the structure and dynamics of different types of saccharides and polysaccharides
• Understand the composition and structure of both lipids and membranes
• Describe the structure and dynamics of different types of enzymes, vitamins and hormones
• Describe the structure and function of different types of nucleic acids including DNA and RNA
• Become familiar with some of the basic laboratory techniques used in biochemistry and to appreciate the importance of safety in the laboratory

What you will be doing during this Course

• Describe some of the main differences between prokaryote and eukaryote cells
• Explain mitochondria and why are they important for cellular functioning in eukaryotes
• Explain the difference between dextrorotary and levorotary molecules
• Explain the difference between standard and non-standard amino acids
• Name the bond that is created between two adjacent amino acids in a chain, and state what two chemical groups are involved in forming this bond
• Name some of the methods used today to determine the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
• State common causes of protein denaturation
• Explain why sickle cell anaemia is called a 'molecular disease'
• List the main types of secondary structure present in proteins and the structural categories of proteinsInclude examples
• Name the bond that can form between cysteine residues in a polypeptide and explain why these are important
• Explain why polypeptide or protein folding is important
• Comment on the statement that 'proteins and enzymes have static structures'
• Describe what might be required for a protein to fold efficiently into its active (or native) conformation
• Define polysaccharides
• Name one polysaccharide important in nature and describe its structure
  • Explain glycoproteins
  • Classify lipids
• Explain why fats are an efficient form of energy storage
• Draw a saturated and non-saturated hydrocarbon
• State what class of biomolecules enzymes belong to
• Explain the role of enzymes in metabolism
• Explain how the flux of reactants through metabolic pathways can be controlled via enzyme regulation
• Do an Internet search to find out information on the structure of DNA proposed by Watson and Crick in 1953Discuss the significance of their findings
• Name the four nucleotide bases that DNA is composed of and state which bases can pair with each other on opposite strands.
• Describe the structure of DNA (B-DNA) with as many of the essential features as you can list.
• Describe the equipment used for gel and paper electrophoresis and the operation principles.
• List some methods for purifying and studying proteins along with a brief description of each method.
• List some of the properties of proteins that form the basis for their purification and separation from each other.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the Academy, marked by the Academy's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.