Biochemistry 1

Course Description

COURSE CONTENT

Lectures: Protein structure and functions: amino acid structural features and chemical properties, structural levels and the three-dimensional structure of proteins, protein denaturation. Methods of protein separation and analysis. Enzymes: structure and catalytic activity of enzymes, enzyme kinetics, effect of temperature and pH on enzyme activity, mechanisms of enzyme inhibition, allosteric enzymes. Nucleic acids: structure and biological role of DNA and RNA, DNA replication, RNA synthesis. Protein synthesis: amino acid activation, structure and role of tRNA, ribosome structure and translation process. Posttranslational modification of proteins. Lipids. Carbohydrates.

Seminars: Problems solving related to: enzyme catalysis and kinetics, methods of protein separation and analysis, protein synthesis.

Laboratory Practice: Determination of protein concentration according to ˝Lowry – method˝. Enzyme kinetics (effect of temperature and pH on reaction velocity, determination of kinetic constants Km and Vmax, reversible inhibition). Protein separation by gel-filtration chromatography and by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• explain structural levels and protein conformation and interpret the relation of structure to protein biological activity, as well as the process of protein denaturation; explain the action of different factors influencing protein denaturation
• explain basic principles of methods for protein separation and purification; describe basic preparative and analytical procedures for separation, analysis, and characterization of proteins; apply acquired knowledge in practical working with proteins
• explain catalytic activity and specificity of enzymes, kinetics of enzymatic reactions, influence of pH and temperature on the enzyme activity, mechanisms of enzyme activity regulation, and use enzymes for preparative and analytical applications
• describe structure and biological role of DNA and RNA
• explain molecular mechanisms of genetic information transfer and protein synthesis

To enrol in this course, the following courses must be completed:

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biology

Literature

1. J.M. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko, L. Stryer, Biokemija (prijevod 6. izdanja), Školska knjiga, Zagreb, 2013. 

2. J.M. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko, G.J. Gatto, L. Stryer, Biochemistry (eighth edition), W.H. Freeman and Co., New York, 2015.

3. D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (third edition), Worth Publisher, New York, 2000.

4. M. Osgood, K. Ocorr, The Absolute, Ultimate Guide to Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (third edition) , Worth Publisher, New York, 2000.