College of Medicine and Health Sciences: St. Luci

Biochemistry

Unit I Introduction to Biochemistry

Reading Assignments

                Lehninger; Chapter 1, 3 and 4

Topics for Discussion

1.         Recognize the important characteristics of living organisms.

2.         Describe the laws of thermodynamics and relate them to living organisms.

3.         Define each of the following terms: energy, entropy and free energy.

4.         Compare and contrast endergonic reactions and exergonic reactions.

5.         Explain the concept of energy coupled reactions.

6.         Recognize the significance of ATP.

7.         Describe the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions.

8.         Define each of the following: metabolic pathway, catabolism and anabolism.

9.         Recognize the electronic structure of each of the following elements: H, O, N, C, S, and P.

10.       Recognize the unique bonding characteristics of carbon.

11.       Compare and contrast the bond angles and lengths of single, double and triple carbon covalent bonds.

12.       Recognize the structure of each of the following functional groups: hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl, aldehyde, ketone, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, amino, amido, guanidino, imidazole, sulfhydryl, disulfide, phosphoryl, ester, thioester, anhydride, mixed anhydride, and phosphoanhydride.

13.       Define each of the following terms: structural, configurational and stereoisomers.

14.       Define each of the following terms: chiral center, enantiomer, diastereomer, and stereospecificity.

15.       Compare and contrast the bond strengths of single, double, and triple bonds.

16.       Define electronegativity and recognize the relative electronegativity of the common elements of biological molecules.

17.       Compare and contrast nonpolar and polar covalent bonds.

18.       Define oxidation and reduction.

19.       Compare and contrast nucleophile and electrophile.

20.       Describe and compare and contrast homolytic and heterolytic cleavage.

21.       Compare and contrast SN1 and SN2 nucleophilic substitution reactions.

22.       Describe internal rearrangement reactions.

23.       Describe nonpolar (hydrophobic) interactions.

24.       Describe van der Waals interactions.

25.       Describe the unique physical properties of water.

26.       Explain how water acts as a polar solvent.

27.       Describe each of the following elements of a solution: solvent, solute, concentration, and colligative properties.

28.       Define osmosis.

29.       Define each of the following terms: osmotic pressure, semi-permeable membrane.

30.       Given the relative osmotic pressure or solute concentrations of two solutions, determine the direction of osmosis.

31.       Define each of the following terms: isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic.

32.       Define each of the following terms: acid, base, pH, hydronium ion.

33.       Explain the concept of disassociation equilibrium and K_eq.

34.       Relate the significant features of the pH scale.

35.       Compare and contrast strong and weak acids.

36.       Describe the titration curve of a weak acid.

37.       Describe the function of buffers.

38.       Compare and contrast the protein, phosphate, and bicarbonate buffer systems.

39.       Explain the significance of the Henderson Hesselbach equation.

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