CIP Code:   40.0502  
HEGIS Code:    1909  
	METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER 
	Office of Academic Affairs 
 
	REGULAR COURSE SYLLABUS 
 
SCHOOL:   Letters, Arts & Sciences 
DEPARTMENT:  Chemistry  
SEMESTER(S) OFFERED:   Fall, Spring  
PREFIX & COURSE NUMBER:   CHE 431  
COURSE TITLE:   Biochemistry I 
CREDIT HOURS:   4   ( 4 + 0 ) 
CONTACT HOURS:  Lecture  60 	Lab  0 	Internship   0 	Practicum   0  
RESTRICTIONS (VARIABLE TOPICS COURSES):   None 
PREREQUISITE(S):   CHE 312 
COREQUISITE(S):   None 
 
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: 
 
An introduction to the chemistry of living systems with emphasis placed on metabolism,  
bioenergetics, molecular strategy and regulation.  Applications to the related fields of nutrition,  
human physiology and medicine are stressed. 
 
REQUIRED READING MATERIALS  (Title, Author, Publisher, Copyright Date): 
 
Principles of Biochemistry, 2nd ed.  Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, Worth, 1993. 
 
 
SPECIFIC (MEASURABLE) STUDENT BEHAVIORAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 
 
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to: 
 
1.	Evaluate the oxidation states of carbon in any biomolecule. 
2.	Calculate bioenergetic parameters (DG , DG, DE , efficiency of energy conversion). 
3.	Draw structures of identity, and name the common mono- and disaccarides. 
4.	Reproduce the following metabolic schemes in detail (structures of metabolites, and  
names of co-factors and enzymes):  glycolysis, TCA cycle, electron transport and oxidative  
phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism, fatty acid oxidation. 
5.	Discuss protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures) with  
illustrative examples from studies on ribonuclease, hemoglobin and insulin. 
6.	Calculate KM and VMAX from kinetic data from enzymes. 
7.	State why ATP is a high-energy compound. 
8.	Calculate ATP costs for and yields from all pathways studied:  glycolysis, TCA cycle,  
photosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism, amino acid catabolism, urea  
cycle, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, ketone body catabolism, pentose pathway, cholesterol  
synthesis and disaccharide metabolism. 
9.	Write reaction mechanisms for all reactions in the glycolytic scheme, TCA cycle and  
analogous reactions. 
10.	State the similarities and differences between chloroplasts and mitochondria. 
11.	Trace C-14 radio labeled metabolites through all pathways listed in objective #8. 
12.	State and discuss the main points of molecular logic of all pathways listed in objective. 
13.	Compare the different modes of regulation metabolism: isozymes, feedback inhibition,  
covalent modification of enzymes, biological amplification and gene expression. 
 
OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT (Major Topics and Subtopics): 
 
1.	Lecture 
	A.	Fundamental Chemistry of Biochemistry 
	B.	Mainstream Metabolism 
	C.	Biosynthesis of Carbohydrate 
	D.	Regulation of Metabolism 
	E.	Amino Acid Metabolism 
	F.	Lipid Metabolism 
	G.	Nutrition 
 
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE: 
 
Students will be given periodic fifty minute examinations.  These examinations will be  
supplemented by short quizzes.  A final exam one hundred minutes long will terminate the  
course.  The final grade determination will be based on the students performance on the  
examinations, quizzes, final exam and the instructors evaluation. 
 
Copies retained by Dean and Department Chair 
 
Revised 9/94:	Academic Affairs-Curriculum-Regular Course Syllabus 
					(s:\wpform\acadaff\currculm\regsyl.wp)