I. Relate basic chemical processes to the science of biochemistry

 A.        Compare and contrast ionic, polar covalent, nonpolar covalent and hydrogen bonding.

 B.        Compare and contrast eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses.

 C.        Evaluate how basic chemical properties of biological molecules contribute to their structure and functional roles in the cell.

 D.        Use the fundamental principals of bioenergetics to analyze biochemical reactions.

 E.        Discuss the distinguishing properties of enzymes and to distinguish among competitive, noncompetitive, and uncompetitive inhibition.

 F.        Compare and contrast the various mechanisms of enzyme regulation in order to explain the action of certain drugs.

 II.       Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources (lectures, case studies, textbooks, computer simulations) concerning complex metabolic pathways dealing with energy and the transfer of cellular information.

 A.        Diagram the flow of energy in the following pathways: the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, lipid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, glycogen metabolism and amino acid metabolism.

 B.        Assess and compare signal transduction initiated by glucagon and insulin.

 C.        Analyze the regulation and interdependence of mainstream metabolic pathways.

 D.        Organize and explain the metabolic interrelationships of various organs of the body.

 III.       Examine the evidence supporting the passage of genetic information from generation to generation and the implications for the discovery and treatment of genetic diseases.

 A.        Compare and contrast RNA and DNA molecular makeup and function.

 B.        Diagram and explain the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to proteins.

 C.        Compare and contrast DNA replication and DNA repair and their role in the production of mutations.

 D.        Examine various genetic and enzymatic control mechanisms to determine advantages and disadvantages for the whole organism.

 E.        Describe recombinant DNA technology and analyze its role in the diagnosis of genetic diseases.

 IV.       Apply the processes and concepts of metabolic pathways to analyze and treat disease states.

 A.        Examine ketone body metabolism to understand diabetic ketoacidosis and its treatment.

 B.        Outline the pathway for cholesterol synthesis and the pathways for chylomicron, VLDL, HDL, and LDL metabolism in order to understand the cellular basis for atherosclerosis.

 C.        Identify and evaluate the consequences of inborn errors in metabolism in order to identify possible metabolic defects that produce disease states.

 D.        Defend the use of drugs to treat various disease states.

 I. Chemical properties of water

 A.        electrostatic properties of water

 B.        formation of hydrogen bonds

 C.        ionization of water

 D.        acids and bases

 E.        buffers

 II.       Amino acids

 III.       nomenclature of peptides

 IV.       Enzymes

 A.        general information on catalysts

 B.        enzymes as catalysts

 C.        coenzymes and prosthetic groups

 D.        metal ions in enzymes

 V.       Myoglobin, hemoglobin and gas transport

 A.        oxygen transport

 B.        heme

 C.        allosteric effects

 D.        2,3-BPG

 E.        pH effects

 F.        chloride shift

 VI.       Nucleic acids

 A.        covalent structure of RNA and DNA

 B.        sugars and bases

 C.        noncovalent structure of DNA

 D.        DNA denaturation and renaturation

 E.        complexity of the human genome

 VII.       DNA replication and nucleotide metabolism

 A.        basic mechanism DNA replication

 B.        De novo synthesis of nucleotides

 C.        nucleotide salvage pathways and their clinical significance

 D.        synthesis of deoxyribonuleotides from ribonucleotides

 E.        antiviral agents

 VIII.       Mutagenesis, DNA repair and Cancer

 A.        types of mutations

 B.        mechanism of mutagenesis

 C.        DNA repair and cancer

 D.        oncogenes

 E.        nucleotide excision repair and xeroderma pigmentosum

 F.        mismatch repair and colorectal cancer

 IX.       Inheritance of disease

 A.        gametognesis

 B.        general aspects of inheritance

 C.        autosomal inheritance

 D.        X-linked inheritance

 E.        recombination and linkage

 F.        detection of disease by enzyme assay - infantile Tay-Sachs disease

 G.        direct detection of a mutation - sickle cell anemia

 H.        inference of a mutation by linkage to an RFLP - cystic fibrosis

 X.       RNA synthesis and function

 A.        RNA structure

 B.        DNA transcription

 C.        RNA polymerase

 D.        initiation

 E.        elongation and termination

 F.        roles of RNA

 G.        messenger RNA

 H.        ribosomal RNA

 I.        transfer RNA

 J.        small nuclear RNA

 XI.       RNA translation into protein

 A.        genetic code

 B.        ribosome structure and function

 C.        translation factors

 D.        initiation of translation

 E.        elongation of translation

 F.        termination of translation

 XII.       Membranes

 A.        composition of membranes

 B.        lipid components

 C.        polar head groups

 D.        fatty acyl groups

 E.        common fatty acids

 F.        phosphoglycerides

 G.        sphingolipids

 H.        cholesterol

 I.        effects of lipid composition on structure and fluidity

 J.        integral and peripheral membrane proteins

 XIII.       Introduction to metabolism

 A.        anabolic vs catabolic pathways

 B.        overview of metabolic pathways

 C.        glucose as an essential fuel molecule

 D.        regulation of metabolic pathways

 E.        major organs have different patterns of metabolism

 F.        energy conservation

 G.        oxidation-reduction reactions

 XIV.       Glucose metabolism

 A.        structure of glucose

 B.        hemiacetal form of glucose

 C.        forms of glucose in our diet

 D.        absorption of sugars

 E.        glycolysis

 F.        regulation of glycolysis

 G.        pentose phosphate pathway

 XV.       Tricarboxylic acid cycle

 A.        importance of TCA cycle

 B.        reactions of the TCA cycle

 C.        regulation of the TCA cycle

 XVI.       Electron transport

 A.        summary of electron transfer to oxygen

 B.        chemistry of different types of electron carriers in the electron transport system

 C.        details of the electron transport system

 D.        P/O ratios

 E.        reactive oxygen species

 F.        antioxidants

 G.        repair of damage

 H.        clinical relevance of oxidative stress

 XVII.       Glycogen metabolism

 A.        glycogen synthesis

 B.        branching during glycogen synthesis

 C.        glycogen degradation

 D.        hormonal control

 E.        fasting vs feeding

 XVIII.       Regulation of blood glucose

 A.        maintenance of blood glucose levels is essential

 B.        regulation of blood glucose homeostasis

 C.        metabolic effects of insulin and glucagon

 D.        maintence of blood glucose during fasting

 E.        cyclic Amp mediated regulation of glucose utilization and output

 XIX.       Gluconeogenesis

 A.        by pass around irreversible steps in glycolysis

 B.        gluconeogenesis from pyruvate

 C.        biotin as a vitamin

 D.        gluconeogenesis from glycerol;

 E.        gluconeogenesis from amino acids

 F.        regulation of gluconeogenesis

 XX.       Lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation

 A.        mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue

 B.        fatty acid activation

 C.        transfer into mitochondrion

 D.        â oxidation

 E.        formation and utilization of ketone bodies

 F.        ketone bodies and gluconeogenesis

 XXI.       Digestion and absorption of dietary fat

 A.        emulsification

 B.        pancreatic lipase

 C.        absorption and reesterification

 D.        secretion into the blood

 E.        utilization of absorbed lipid

 F.        conditions under which fatty acid synthesis occurs

 G.        cellular location and tissues

 H.        biosynthesis of fatty acids

 I.        elongation of fatty acids

 J.        synthesis of triglycerides and storage

 K.        regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis

 XXII.       Cholesterol

 A.        structure of cholesterol

 B.        occurrence

 C.        sources of cholesterol

 D.        synthesis of cholesterol

 E.        conversion of cholesterol into bile acids

 F.        cholesterol absorption

 G.        transfer of cholesterol to tissues

 XXIII.       Lipoproteinmetabolism