20204 Biochemistry I: Proteins - Structure and Function 1
Credits: 3 intermediate credits in Life Sciences or in Chemistry
Prerequisites: none
Required: General Chemistry1 (or General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II, for Biology Students; or General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II), and one of the following: Organic Chemistry for Biology Students, Organic Chemistry
Recommended: One of the following: General Biology I, Introduction to Life Sciences
Authors: Ruth Arav, Shlomit Zarchovitz
Proteins are the most important macromolecules in living organisms: structural proteins constitute the major building blocks of the organism while functional proteins perform many vital functions such as the catalysis of reactions (enzymes), selective transport of substances through cell membranes (transport proteins), protection of the body against penetration of foreign bodies (antibodies). The course presents the relationship between protein structure and functions and provides basic knowledge of prevalent methods in protein research. This basic course in the Life Sciences serves as the foundation for many courses including Cell Structure and Function (20452 or 20214), Human Physiology (20556), Immunology (20322), Plant Physiology (20306). The course includes a mandatory laboratory session.
Topics: Amino acids and the peptide bond; Structure of proteins – the relationship between the sequence of amino acids in a protein and its three-dimensional structure; Protein isolation and purification – includes a laboratory session aimed at presenting methods of protein isolation and purification; Myoglobin and hemoglobin – showing how the structure of these proteins is essential to their function; Catalysis of enzymes – unique characteristics of enzymes as biological catalysts and the kinetics of enzymatic reactions; Enzyme mechanisms – mechanism, three-dimensional structure and active site structure of three enzymes: Lysozyme, Carboxypeptidase A and Chymotrypsin.
1or General Chemistry (20477 or 20487), which is no longer offered.