BCHM 310 - General Biochemistry | Biomedical and Molecular Sciences | School of Medicine

BCHM 310 - General Biochemistry

Year 3

9-10 hours/week

Available

On-Campus Course

Principles of protein biochemistry, enzymology, and protein engineering. Metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids. Role of coenzymes. Generation and storage of metabolic energy. Principles of regulatory mechanisms, membrane structure and function, hormone action, and cellular signalling.

Prerequisites

Level 3 or above and BCHM 218/3.0 and [(CHEM 222/3.0 and CHEM 223/3.0) or CHEM 282/3.0].

Students lacking the prerequisites CHEM 222/3.0 or CHEM 282/3.0 may take these courses as a corequisite with permission of the Department.

Exclusions

BCHM 310/9.0

Method of Delivery

Lecture

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Describe the charge state of an amino acid and explain how that relates to its behaviour.
Describe how the charge state of a protein depends on its pI and the pH of the environment and explain how that relates to its behaviour.
Describe how proteins can be purified using a variety of methods.
Describe the different levels of protein structure (primary, secondary, etc.) and explain the important forces that stabilize them.
Describe the expected results of experiments that could be used to study protein structure and function.
Design experiments that could be used to study protein structure and function.
Explain how the sequences of a variety of related proteins can be used to understand their structure and function.
Explain the concepts of cooperativity as they apply to the function of multimeric proteins.
Explain the ways in which enzymes are able to catalyze reactions.
Explain the features of metabolic pathways that are important for regulation of cellular processes
Explain the various ways in which metabolic pathways are regulated
Explain the ways in which alterations in metabolism can lead to disease
Explain the roles of different metabolic pathways in mammalian cellular function

Evaluations

Fall term lecture Assessments (total 40%):

Online Quizzes (5) 4%
Midterm test (mid-October) 8%
Midterm test (early November) 8%
December final exam 20%

Winter term lecture Assessments (total 40%):

On-line Quizzes (5) 4%
Midterm test (February) 10%
Course Assignment 6%
April final exam 20%

Laboratory: 20%

Time Commitment

3 hour lectures per week, 3 hour labs every other week

Textbooks and Materials

Lehninger. Principles of Biochemistry 7th Edition, Wiley, 2017.

This text is sold in a traditional textbook format, in a loose-leaf format, or as an E-book. The latter two formats are significantly cheaper. A custom version of the textbook is also available from the bookstore. The text is required. We will recommend readings from the textbook to be read before coming to class. There are also useful practice questions after each chapter. For a full understanding of this course, it is essential that you should read the relevant sections of Lehninger, or of any other standard Biochemistry textbook.

Grading Method

Queen’s Official Grade Conversion Scale

Grade Numerical Course Average (Range)

A+ 90-100

A 85-89

A- 80-84

B+ 77-79

B 73-76

B- 70-72

C+ 67-69

C 63-66

C- 60-62

D+ 57-59

D 53-56

D- 50-52

F 49 and below