BIOL 445 / CHEM 445 - Biochemistry II (Spring 2008)

(updated 15-Jan-2008)

Sections: BIOL 445 - 01 (CRN 20826); CHEM 445 - 01 (CRN 20759)
Lectures:
1:10-2:00 pm, 201 Hughes.
Instructor:
Jeff Cronk [E-mail: cronk@gonzaga.edu ] Office: Hughes 234
Office Hours: M,W 4-5 pm, Thu 1-2 pm, and by appointment
Text (required): Biochemistry (6th edition) Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer (BTS6)
Recommnded: Student Companion to Accompany Biochemistry (6th ed.) Gumport et al.

CHEM 445 / BIOL 445 - Spring 2008: Enter course website .

Additional Links:

[ Biochemistry dictionary ] [ CHEM 440 ] [ GU home ] [ GU Biology ("Gonzology") ] [ NCBI ] [ Resources ]


  Class schedule
Spring 2008
MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY
 

WEEK 1
16, 18 January

( Lectures 1, 2 )

 

17 January.
Lipids, membranes,
and mitochondria (CH.18)

19 January.
Redox potentials and
free energy (CH.18)


WEEK 2
21, 23, 25 January
( Lectures 3, 4, 5 )

MLK Holiday

22 January.
Electron transport chain
CHAPTER 18

24 January.
Redox loops and
proton pumps

WEEK 3
28, 30 January; 1 February
( Lectures 5 - 7 )
26 January.
Electron transfer
to oxygen
30 January
ATP synthase
1 February.
Respiratory control.
Inhibitors of ETC

WEEK 4
4, 6, 8 February
( Lectures 8, 9, 10 )
4 February.
Photosynthesis
CHAPTER 19

6 February.
Bacterial photosynthetic
reaction complex

8 February.
Electron flow in photosynthesis

WEEK 5
11, 13, 15 February
( Lectures 11, 12 )
11 February.
ATP synthesis
in chloroplasts
13 February
EXAM 1
15 February.
Rubisco and the
Calvin cycle (CH.20)

WEEK 6
18, 20, 22 February
( Lectures 13, 14 )
President's Day
Holiday
20 February.
Calvin cycle
and C4 plants
22 February.
Pentose phosphate
pathway

WEEK 7
25, 27, 29 February
( Lecture 15, 16, 17 )
25 February.
PPP:
Enzymes & mechanisms
27 February.
Glycogen structure
and metabolism (CH.21)
29 February.
Regulation of glycogen
phosphorylase

WEEK 8
3, 5, 7 March
( Lectures 18, 19, 20 )
3 March.
Glycogen synthesis.
Reciprocal regulation
5 March.
Fatty acid metabolism
CHAPTER 22
7 March.
Fatty acid metabolism:
Special problems

WEEK 9 - Spring Break (10 -14 March)
 
    MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY

WEEK 10
17, 19, 21 March
( Lectures 21, 22 )
17 March
Fatty acid synthesis
19 March
Regulation of FA synthesis
Eicosanoid hormones
21 March
Good Friday
Holiday

WEEK 11
24, 26, 28 March
( Lecture 23 )
24 March
Easter Holiday
26 March
Regulation of
fatty acid metabolism
.
28 March
EXAM 2

WEEK 12
31 March, 2, 4 April
( Lecture 24, 25, 26 )

31 March.
Ubiquitin and proteasomes
CHAPTER 23

2 April
Glutamate catabolism.
Transaminases & PLP
4 April
PLP-dependent reactions.
The urea cycle

WEEK 13
7, 9, 11 April
( Lectures 27, 28, 29 )
7 April.
Amino acid catabolism
9 April.
Biological nitrogen fixation
CHAPTER 24
11 April.
Amino acid biosynthesis.
One-carbon metabolism

WEEK 14
14, 16. 18 April
( Lectures 30, 31, 32 )
14 April.
Amino acids and
further biosynthesis
16 April.
Nucleotide biosynthesis
CHAPTER 25

18 April.
Purine biosynthesis

WEEK 15
21, 23, 25 April
( Lectures 33, 34 )
20 April.
Ribonucleotide reductase
25 April.
Special topics in
biochemistry
(TBA)
25 April
EXAM 3

WEEK 16
28, 30 April, 2 May
( Lectures 35, 36, 37 )
28 April.
Special topics in
biochemistry
(TBA)
30 April.
Special topics in
biochemistry
(TBA)
2 May.
Special topics in
biochemistry (TBA)

FINAL EXAM - Monday 5 May 2008, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
 

Course objectives: Building on the previous semester's work with the chemistry of living systems, based upon thermodynamics, kinetics, molecular structures and mechanisms, we take up topics within the areas of bioenergetics and metabolism. Note as well it is presumed you are MCB literate (as one would be having taken BIOL 201). To begin, we examine the process of oxidative phosphorylation, including biomembrane functionality, electron transport, and the details of ATP synthesis. Following a complementary treatment of the light reactions of photosynthesis, we explore metabolic pathways involving pentose phosphates, complex carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, nitrogen, and nucleotides. Throughout, but especially in the second half of the course, we take up the biochemical basis of disease, and develop regulation as a unifying principle in metabolism. We will finish the semester with special topics which in past semesters have been based on student reports.

Grading for this course is based mainly upon exams, although homewok, problem sets, etc will be given consideration. Further details are provided in class.

Missed exams, late homework: I will permit make-up exams only for students with a legitimate, urgent excuse who have contacted me prior to the exam or quiz. I reserve the right to deduct points from homework that is turned in late.

[ E-mail: cronk@gonzaga.edu ]