CHEM 245 - Introduction to Biochemistry (Spring 2019)

Lecture: 9:25-10:40 pm, Tue & Thu in 201 Hughes (Sect. 04, CRN 22128).
Instructor: Jeff Cronk E-mail: cronk@gonzaga.edu   Office: 234 Hughes.
Office Hours: Mon: 1 - 2 pm; Tue: 11 - noon & 2 - 3 pm; Wed 3:30-4:30 pm; also by appointment
Required Text: Nelson DL & Cox MM. - Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry - 7th edition ("Lehninger")
Recommended: A good general chemistry text, e.g. Tro NJ. Chemistry: Structure and Properties (2nd ed. Pearson 2018)
Other required materials: scientific calculator
  Class schedule
(revised 1-16-2019) 		TUESDAY THURSDAY
 
WEEK 1
15, 17 January
( Lectures 1, 2 )		 15 January
Foundations I.
 17 January
Aqueous systems
Noncovalent forces
WEEK 2
22, 24 January
( Lectures 3, 4 ) 		22 January
Aqueous systems
Acid-base chemistry

24 January
Buffers
WEEK 3
29, 31 January
( Lectures 5, 6 ) 		29 January
Amino acids
Polyprotic species

31 January
Protein methods
Primary structure

WEEK 4
5, 7 February
( Lecture 7 ) 		5 February
EXAM 1

7 February
Protein structure:
Secondary and tertiary structure
WEEK 5
12, 14 February
( Lectures 8, 9 ) 		12 February
Protein structure:
Tertiary & quaternary structure		 14 February
Protein stability,
denaturation & folding
WEEK 6
19, 21 February
( Lectures 10, 11 ) 		19 February
Protein function:
Myoglobin & hemoglobin		 21 February
Introduction
to enzymology
WEEK 7
26, 28 February
( Lectures 12, 13 )		 26 February
Enzymes:
Kinetics & inhibition		 28 February
Enzyme mechanisms
and case studies
WEEK 8
5, 7 March
( Lecture 14 ) 		5 March
EXAM 2		 7 March
Regulation of
enzyme activity
 Spring Break   10 - 15 March
    TUESDAY THURSDAY
WEEK 9
19, 21 March
( Lectures 15, 16 )		 19 March
Carbohydrates:
Monosaccharides and polysaccharides		 21 March
Carbohydrates:
Glycoconjugates and glycobiology
  WEEK 10
26, 28 March
( Lectures 17, 18 )		 26 March.
Nucleotides and
nucleic acids		 28 March.
Nucleic acid
structure and chemistry
  WEEK 11
2, 4 April
( Lectures 19, 20 )		 2 April
Lipids:
Classification and biological roles		 4 April
Lipids and
biological membranes
  WEEK 12
9, 11 April
( Lecture 21 )		 9 April
Biohemical signaling
 11 April
EXAM 3
  WEEK 13
16, 18 April
( Lectures 22, 23 ) 		16 April
Biochemical
thermodynamics
 18 April
Biological oxidation-
reduction reactions
  WEEK 14
23, 25 April
( Lectures 24, 25 ) 		23 April
Glycolysis:
Reactions and enzymes		 25 April
Metabolic regulation
  WEEK 15
30 April, 2 May
( Lectures 26, 27 ) 		30 April
Gluconeogenesis,
de/carboxylation 		2 May
Conclusion
and a look forward
FINAL EXAM - Wednesday 8 May 2019, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
 

Course objectives: CHEM 245 introduces the fundamental concepts of biochemistry: protein structure and function, kinetics and enzymology, bioenergetics and thermodynamics, metabolism and regulation.

Grading: Your grade will be based on scores in three in-class exams (100 points each), a final exam (200 points), and quizzes or homework (200). (The laboratory grades are determined separately.) Grades will be assigned on the basis of percentage of possible points earned, according to the scale: 90-100 A-/A; 80-89 B-/B/B+; 70-79 C-/C/C+; 60-69 D/D+; <60 F. Note that adjustments to this scale may be made according to the class distribution of total scores and your level of class participation. NOTE: It is your responsibility to be familiar with and abide by GU's Academic Honesty Policy

Missed exams, quizzes, 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. There will be no makeup quizzes. I reserve the right to deduct points from homework that is turned in late.