BCMB 201: Structure and Function of Biomolecules

Chemistry & Function of Biological Compounds: Biomolecules: - monomers; polymers; macromolecules; supramolecules. Carbohydrates: - mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides (structural and storage); stereoisomerism; mutarotation; reactions of carbohydrates. Other derivatives of monosaccharides. Lipids: - classification (fatty acids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, sphingolipids, steroids, cholesterol, eicosanoids); simple lipoproteins; glycolipids (cell-cell recognition, receptors etc). Proteins: - amino acids:- basic structure, classification, acid/base properties, essential & non-essential; peptides; protein structure- primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures, classification and properties. Enzymes as proteins. Nucleic Acids: - nitrogenous bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, cyclic nucleotides and nucleic acids DNA and RNAs (brief review of replication, transcription, translation). Other cellular molecules: Porphyrins, Vitamins and co-enzymes alkaloids & inorganic ions.