Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Relate the structural properties of amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids to the cellular function of these biomolecules; 2. Describe the different types of proteins secondary structure and provide examples of protein tertiary structures; 3. Characterise the structure and function of antibodies, myoglobin, haemoglobin, molecular motors and appreciate relationships between protein dysfunction and disease; 4. Characterise the components and properties of biological membranes; 5. Describe the characteristics and mechanism of enzymes and co-enzymes, and explain the kinetics and regulation of enzyme-catalysed reactions; 6. Describe fundamental pathways of energy metabolism as well as amino acid and lipid biosynthesis; 7. Outline fundamental principles of immune response.
Indicative Module Content:
Module Introduction
The physical basis of life: biomolecular interactions
Amino acids, the peptide bond, protein primary structure
Secondary structure, fibrous proteins, tertiary structure
Diversity of protein functions: e.g. Insulin, haemoglobin
Antibodies, structure, function and applications
Molecular motors, proteins in cell organization and movement
Protein dysfunction and disease; clinical analyses
Protein characterisation, sequencing and structure determination
Carbohydrate structure (monosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycosidic bond)
Carbohydrates in cell-cell interactions, proteoglycans, bacterial cell wall
Lipid structure: fatty acids, phospholipids, sphingolipids
Lipid structure: cholesterol and steroid hormones
Q&A, Tutorial 1 "Biomolecules". How to learn biomolecules?
Membranes and membrane proteins
Transporters, ion channels, receptors
Introduction to Enzymes; coenzymes and isoenzymes
Enzyme structure and specificity
Mechanisms of rate enhancement and basic kinetics
Enzymes Inhibition: Enzymes as targets in disease
Regulation of enzyme activity
Introduction to metabolism
Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis
TCA cycle
Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation
Lipid metabolism, beta oxidation
Amino acid metabolism
Regulation and integration of metabolism, hormonal regulation of metabolism
Metabolism. Energy Homeostasis. Disease. Diabetes. Exercise
Introduction to immune system
Innate immunity: Pathogen recognition
Overview of innate and adaptive immune response
Module Review and Q&A