Fundamentals of Biochemistry

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Nuclear Chemistry

Synopsis:

Whole area of general biochemistry is covered by the lecture. Structures of metabolites are discussed together with basic metabolic processes in which they participate. Lectures - in Czech -

Exercises:

Practical course in biochemistry is provided by Helena Ryšlavá, Helena Ryšlavá, Veronika Doubnerová, Helena Dračínská, Petr Man, Petr Novák, Petr Pompach, Jiří Liberda The students are dealing with basic biochemical methods. There are methods used for protein and nucleic acid isolation and their characterization (extraction, centrifugation, precipitation, dialysis). Ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration are used for protein purification from a complex mixture. The students have to determine the relative molecular mass of a protein by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis comparing the mobility of it with those of proteins with

Requirements:

Knowledge of chemistry on the level of completed bachelor courses of general, inorganic, and organic chemistry.

Syllabus of lectures:

Protein structure and function. Exploring proteins. DNA and RNA. Flow of genetic information. Exploring genes: analyzing, constructing and cloning DNA. Oxygen-transporting proteins. Enzymes. Mechanism of enzyme action. Control of enzymic activity. Connective-tissue proteins. Biological membranes. Metabolism: basic concepts. Carbohydrates. Glycolysis. Citric acid cycle. Oxydative phosphorylation. Pentose phosphate pathway and gluconeogenesis. Glycogene metabolism. Fatty acid metabolism. Amino acid degradation and the urea cycle. Photosynthesis. Biosynthesis of membrane lipids and steroid hormones. Biosynthesis of amino acids and heme. Biosynthesis of nucleotides. Integration of metabolism. DNA structure, replication and repair. Gene rearrangements. RNA synthesis and splicing. Protein synthesis. Protein targeting. Control of gene expression. Viruses and oncogenes. Molecular immunology. Muscle contraction and cell motility. Membrane transport. Hormone action. Excitable membranes and sensory systems.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Isolation of a protein

Gel chromatography

Ion exchange chromatography

SDS - polyacrylamide electrophoresis

Practical enzymology - kinetic characteristics, apparent Michaelis constants, pH optimum, specific activities, detection of the enzyme activity in gels

Study Objective:

The course provides the students with the knowledge of the structure and function of biochemically significant compounds and biochemistry of physiological processes.

The students will acquire competence to o apprehend the advanced courses from the specialised fields of chemistry and life sciences.

Study materials:

Key references:

Lubert Stryer: Biochemistry, New York: W.H.Freeman, 1996

Note:

Further information:

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans: