4 credits
Spring 2026 Lecture Upper Division
This course provides an overview of the fundamental biochemical and structural properties of amino acids, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates, the major chemical building blocks of biological systems. The course will connect those properties to the structure and function of macromolecules and cellular structures (e.g. proteins, DNA, membranes). The catalytic mechanisms, kinetic properties and regulation of enzymes will be covered, including the interpretation of data from enzyme assays. Finally, the course provides an overview of how multiple enzymatic activities and their regulation define key metabolic pathways that generate energy, synthesize and degrade biomolecules, and maintain cellular homeostasis.
Learning Outcomes1Identify and interpret the role of weak chemical forces in macromolecular structure and function.
2Apply the principles of chemistry and thermodynamics to explain the higher order structure of proteins, nucleic acids, and membranes.
3Interpret chemical and kinetic data to evaluate the specificity, catalytic mechanism and regulation of enzymes.
4Compare and contrast the roles of lipids and proteins in membrane structure and function.
5Identify and interpret the function and regulation of the major metabolic pathways that sustain life.
6Decipher the logic of the enzyme-facilitated chemical transformations of the core metabolic pathways that generate energy and synthesize/degrade the major biochemical building blocks.
7Interpret the structure of selected enzymes, their regulation, and the biochemical mechanisms by which they catalyze metabolic reactions.
Prerequisites
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.