Syllabus
1. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells - composition and importance of cellular components
2. Amino acids - classification and chemical properties. Peptides and proteins - peptide bond, classification, structure and function
3. Enzymes - classification, rate of enzyme reaction, enzyme inhibition, mechanism of enzyme catalysis
4. Monosaccharides - classification and physico-chemical properties. Disaccharides. Polysaccharides - structural and storage importance. Sugar derivatives
5. Nucleic acids - components of nucleic acids, importance of nucleotides
6. Lipids - fatty acids and other classes of lipids. Cell membrane - composition and importance
7. Membrane transport - passive and facilitated diffusion, active transport. transport-related diseases
8. Classification of organisms according to energy sources. Macroergic compounds. Photosynthesis - light and dark phase. Respiratory chain and ATP formation
9. Metabolism of simple carbohydrates - glycolysis, fermentation, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, gluconeogenesis. Diabetes mellitus
10. Citrate and glyoxalate cycle. Pentosaphosphate pathway of carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolism of glycogen and starch
11. Metabolism of triglycerides, synthesis and degradation of fatty acids. Lipid cleavage as a source of water
12. Cell cycle, DNA replication and transcription. DNA damage and their repair
Annotation
The course is primarily for students of Environmental Protection and Social Epidemiology. The course covers the whole area of general biochemistry and basic metabolic processes.
Emphasis is placed on understanding the interdependence of processes in cells with regard to human diseases and the environment.