BMB532: Fundamental Biochemistry

• Have knowledge of basic mathematics and physics that include logarithms and exponential functions, linear algebra, first order differential equations, and basic physical variables (e.g. pressure, force, temperature, etc).


• Have knowledge in basic chemistry, including chemical reactions, association constants, pH, ionic strength, solution theory.


• Have knowledge of basic biological chemistry (incl. structures of biological molecules (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids), the organization of cells and subcellular organelles, structures of biological membranes, glycolysis, cellular respiration).


• Be able to use basic chemistry laboratory equipment (pipettes, other volumetric material).

1. Architecture of biological membranes and their importance to biochemistry of living organisms


2. Kinetic and thermodynamic principles that underlying metabolic pathways and their regulation 
3. Structure and regulation of basic metabolic pathways within living organisms

The course focuses on the following competences

• Understanding and ability to study processes that involve enzymes and, biological membranes and their integration into metabolic processes in living organisms


• Capability to use spectrophotometry to follow lipid aggregation processes and kinetics of enzymatic reactions; and oximetry to investigate in vivo respiration rate in yeast 


• Ability to perform simple laboratory experiments, collect and analyse data, draw conclusion, prepare written experiment report and accept feedback
• Ability to participate in group work and discussions

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give the student knowledge of theory and experimental methods within the field of Biochemistry
• Give the student knowledge of the scientific terminology within biochemistry
• Give the student knowledge of, how scientific knowledge is obtained through experiment and theory
• Give the students skills in using one or more biochemical theories and methods
• Give the student skills in using selected techniques within the field of biochemistry 

• Use methods from chemical kinetics and enzyme kinetics to determine characteristic constants such as KM and turnover number for enzyme, both in theory and in practice
• Explain how the activity of enzymes are regulated, including allosteric regulation
• Explain the structure of biological membranes and how compounds are transported through these
• Use the thermodynamic and kinetic foundations of metabolism and explain the significance of free energy and equilibrium constants for coupled reactions and the universal role of ATP in this coupling
• Describe metabolites, enzymes and coenzymes in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the citric acid cycle pentose-phosphate pathway, glycogen metabolism, fatty acids oxidation and biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation
• Describe principles behind regulation and integration of metabolic pathways in mammalian organisms
• Describe the basics of photosynthesis and CO2-fixation in plants 

• Lipid composition and self-assembly of biological membranes
• Role of cholesterol in biological membranes
• Structure and properties of membrane proteins
• Active and passive membrane transport

Part II: Enzymes

• Function and kinetics of enzymes in biological systems
• Michaelis-Menten kinetics
• Regulation of enzyme activity

Part III Metabolism

• Metabolism, introduction and Principles of regulation
• Gibbs free energy
• Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis
• Glycogen metabolism
• Pentose-phosphate pathway
• Citric acid cycle
• Fatty acids oxidation
• Oxidative phosphorylation
• Photosynthesis
• Lipid biosynthesis
• Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Mammalian Metabolism 

• David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox: LEHNINGER: PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY, 7th edition, 2017 W. H. Freeman and Company.
• Notes provided via Blackboard

• Tutorials: 20 hours
• Laboratory exercises: 12 hours

• Preparation for lectures (Independent study of textbook)
• Preparation for tutorials (independent study of tutorial materials and textbook) 
• Preparation for laboratory work (independent study of lab instructions)
• Written homework and laboratory reports
• Independent follow-up on the intro and skills trainng phases
• Preparation for exam