Principles of Biochemistry

Recapitulation of basic chemistry and biology. Water, pH and buffers. Acid-base balance. Cellular constituents and their structure and function, amino acid and proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and bio-membranes, nucleic acids. Dissolved molecules– vitamins and minerals. Enzymes- function, properties and mechanism. Metabolism of cellular constituents, basic concepts of bioenergetics. Carbohydrate metabolism-glycolysis and glycogenolysis, HMP pathway, TCA cycle and gluconeogenesis. Electron transport chain. Photosynthesis. Lipid metabolism-β-oxidation, ketone bodies, fatty acid synthesis. Amino acid metabolism - general reactions of nitrogen assimilation and excretion. Biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and protein- replication, transcription, translation and genetic code. Regulation of gene expression.