Course Focus: Biochemistry I covers the structure, reactivity, and biological functions of carbohydrates, nucleotides, lipids, proteins, and enzymes, emphasizing their roles in metabolism and cellular processes.

Major Topics: The course is divided into four modules:

• Module I: Structure and function of biomolecules, especially proteins.

• Module II: Protein function, enzyme catalysis, and inhibition.

• Module III: Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and DNA-based information technologies.

• Module IV: Lipids, membrane transport, bioenergetics, and metabolism.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Explain biochemical concepts by linking general and organic chemistry to biochemistry.

• Identify and describe biomolecules and their polymerization, as well as the thermodynamic principles behind their assembly.

• Analyze enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and inhibition, including the use of Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk equations.

  • Michaelis-Menten equation: v=Vmax⁢[S]Km+[S]

  • Lineweaver-Burk equation: 1v=Km/Vmax⁢1[S]+1Vmax

• Interpret and analyze biochemical data, including protein purification, sequencing, and structure-function relationships.

• Describe the principles of thermodynamics and kinetics as they apply to biochemical reactions and metabolic pathways.

• Discuss the structure and function of biological membranes, membrane proteins, and mechanisms of transport.

• Summarize the flow of genetic information (DNA to RNA to protein) and the biochemical basis of information transfer.

Assessment Structure:

• Problem solving (5%), discussion posts (10%), quizzes (10%), four exams (60%), and a cumulative final exam (15%).

• Exams and quizzes include multiple-choice and written questions covering all major topics.

Course Activities:

• Recorded lectures and videos, synchronous class meetings, group problem-solving, and discussion posts.

• Assignments and exams submitted online via Webcourses@UCF.

Textbook: Biochemistry by Voet, Voet, and Pratt (5th edition or older acceptable).

Schedule Highlights:

• Weeks cover topics such as thermodynamics, water and buffers, amino acids, protein structure and folding, enzyme mechanisms, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, membranes, and signal transduction.