COURSE: CHEMISTRY 304: Biochemistry
DESCRIPTION: Examines structure and function of biological macromolecules-
polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids; lipids; enzymes and metabolism; bioenergetics;
control mechanisms; hormones; body fluids; nutrition; and biochemical pathology. Lecture.
Prerequisite: Biology 110, 111 and Chemistry 101, 102
RECOMMENDED TEXTS: David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox, Lehninger Principles of
Biochemistry, 4th edition, 2005. W.H. Freeman or Donald Voet and Judith G. Voet,
Biochemistry, 3rd Edition, 2004. John Wiley and Sons Publishers. ISBN: 0-471-19350-X
FORMAT: Closed book exam consisting of 95 objective questions with a multiple-choice,
matching and true/false format. In addition, there is a five-point essay question which will test
the student’s grasp of basic biochemical principles. Each objective question is worth one point.
The essay question is worth five points.
GRADING: Students must receive a “C” (73-76) in order to receive credit for a course taken as
a Challenge Exam.
TOPICS FOR STUDY
Amino acid structure
Protein structure and function
• Levels of structure
• Types of conjugated proteins
• Hemoglobin structure and
function
• Collagen structure and function
• Denaturation
Enzymes
• Substrate specificity
• Coenzymes
• Enzyme kinetics
• Regulation of enzymatic activity
Carbohydrates
• Sugar structure and function
• Polysaccharide structure and
function
Lipids
• Types of lipids
• Physical properties of lipids
• Biological membranes
Nucleic Acids
• Structure of DNA and RNA
Metabolism
• General principles of metabolism
• Oxidation-reduction reactions
• Glycolysis
• Citric acid cycle
• Electron transport system
• Oxidative phosphorylation
• Oxidation/Fatty acid
• Ketone body formation
• Amino acid deamination
• DNA replication
• DNA transcription
• Translation and the genetic code
Metabolic diseases or conditions
• Diabetes mellitis
• Atherosclerosis
• Ammonia intoxication
• Sickle cell anemia
• Lysosomal storage diseases