BCHM2072/2972

Human Biochemistry

Course Information

These course outlines are a guide only. They are provided for the information of prospective students. Although every effort is made to ensure the most up to date information is provided, timetables often change each semester due to the availability of rooms and resources. Content (including lecture/practical topics, assessment and textbooks) is also regularly reviewed to ensure relevance and effective learning.

This unit of study aims to describe how cells work at the molecular level, with special emphasis on human biochemistry. The chemical reactions which occur inside cells are described in the first series of lectures, Cellular Metabolism. Aspects of the molecular architecture of cells which enable them to transduce messages and communicate are described in the second half of the unit of study. At every stage there is emphasis on the 'whole body' consequences of reactions, pathways and processes. Cellular Metabolism describes how cells extract energy from fuel molecules like fatty acids and carbohydrates, how the body controls the rate of fuel utilization and how the mix of fuels is regulated (especially under different physiological circumstances such as starvation and exercise). The metabolic inter-relationships of the muscle, brain, adipose tissue and liver and the role of hormones in coordinating tissue metabolic relationships is discussed. The unit also discusses how the body lays down and stores vital fuel reserves such as fat and glycogen, how hormones modulate fuel partitioning between tissues and the strategies involved in digestion and absorption and transport of nutrients. Signal Transduction covers how communication across membranes occurs (i.e. via surface receptors and signaling cascades). This allows detailed molecular discussion of the mechanism of hormone action and intracellular process targeting. The practical component complements the lectures by exposing students to experiments which investigate the measurement of glucose utilisation using radioactive tracers and the design of biochemical assay systems. During the unit of study, generic skills are nurtured by frequent use of computers and problem solving activities. However student exposure to generic skills will be extended by the introduction of exercises designed to teach oral communication, instruction writing and feedback articulation skills.

A/Prof Gareth Denyer

Room: 704

Telephone: 9351 3466

E-mail: gareth@sydney.edu.au

For BCHM2072
Either MBLG (1001 or 1901) and 12 credit points of Junior Chemistry or either MBLG2071 or MBLG2971

For BCHM2972
Distinction in one of BCHM(2071 or 2971) or MBLG(2071 or 2971)) or Distinction in MBLG(1001 or 1901) and Distinction average in all other Junior Science Units of Study undertaken.

For BCHM2072 and BCHM2927
1st Lecture: Wednesday 10:00am Carslaw Lecture Theatre 159
2nd Lecture: Friday 10:00am Carslaw Lecture Theatre 157

Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry Freeman Publishers

Weeks 1 - 2
Overview of Metabolism. Linkage of anabolism and catabolism by ATP. The properties of ATP. Overview of the glucose and fatty acid oxidation pathways that generate ATP.

Biological oxidation-reduction reactions and the formation of electron carries.
An overview of oxidative phosphorylation. Mechanism and control. Coupling and uncoupling. Whole body energy balance.

Molecular mechanisms in oxidative phosphorylation. Electron carriers and the ATP synthase system.

Weeks 3 - 4
Fuel metabolism during exercise to illustrate the detail and integration of the fuel oxidation pathways. Description of the demands of the different intensities of exercise.
Fatty acid oxidation and the TCA cycle.

Glycolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase and lactic acid formation
Breaking down macromolecular fuel stores. Glycogenolysis and lipolysis.

Reflection on the switch in fuels at different intensities of exercise. Introduction to rate limiting steps and control mechanisms (allosteric, reversible phosphorylation, etc).

Weeks 5 - 6
Fuel metabolism during starvation to illustrate recycling pathway, inter-organ relationships and hormone integration. The importance of blood glucose homeostasis.

Gluconeogenesis
Proteolysis: use of the carbon skeletons and channeling of nitrogen to urea production.

Ketone body formation
Fuel supplies and inter-organ relationships during the different phases of starvation.

Weeks 7 - 9
Fuel Storage - overview of pathways and tissue specialization.
Carbohydrate digestion and absorption. Glucose uptake into tissues.
Glycogen synthesis. Fat synthesis (lipogenesis).
Pentose phosphate pathway.
Fat and cholesterol digestion and absorption. Storage of fat in tissues.
Fate of dietary protein/amino acids.


Week 10
Introduction to signaling: general principles of specificity, sensitivity, affinity, integration and adaptation. Control of blood pressure: Guanylyl cyclase receptors for atrial natriuretic factor and nitric oxide.
Glucagon signaling via G-protein coupled receptors and cyclic AMP. Coordinated regulation of glycogen levels. Cross talk between other G-protein coupled receptors (e.g. adrenalin) in glycogen regulation pathways. Receptors of taste (gustation) and smell. Termination of signaling by GTPases.


Week 11
Insulin signaling via Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Cross talk between pathways: interaction with β-adrenergic receptor. Other receptors that use tyrosine kinases including cytokine receptors
Other second messenger pathways. The Phospholipase C pathway, Ca2+ signalling and calmodulin.

Week 12
Altering gene expression via steroid and thyroid hormones. Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by cortisol.

Week 13
When good signalling goes bad! How disorders of signalling can lead to disease, and how drug treatments can interfere with aberrant.

Weeks 2 - 3
Spectrophotometic determination of metabolite concentration

Weeks 4-7
Measuring metabolic fluxes with radioactive tracers

Weeks 8 – 13
Design of enzyme-linked assay kits

One 3 hour exam, practical reports