Course code:
409A2		 Course name:
Biochemistry

Academic year:

2024/2025.

Attendance requirements:

201A2 + 202A2

ECTS:

7

Study level:

basic academic studies, integrated basic and graduate academic studies

Study programs:

Environmental Chemistry: 3. year, summer semester, compulsory course

Chemical Education: 4. year, summer semester, compulsory course

Teacher:

Jelena Z. Radosavljeviæ, Ph.D.
assistant professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistant:

Aleksa D. Saviæ
junior research assistant, Innovation center, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: three hours of lectures + three hours of labwork (3+0+3)

Goals:

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the molecular foundations of the functioning of living systems, the principles of cell formation and biochemical properties of cells. Students also learn about the uniqueness and diversity of biochemical processes and develop the basic experimental skills necessary for working in biochemistry laboratories.

Outcome:

The student understands the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecules, the mechanisms of generating and preserving metabolic energy and regulation of the metabolism. He also understands the storage and transmission of information in biological systems and has developed experimental skills.

Teaching methods:

Lectures, experimental work.

Extracurricular activities:

—

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

  • D. L. Nelson, M. M. Cox, Lehninger: Principles of Biochemistry, 4th ed. 
  • Natalija Polović: Osnove biohemije, 2021. ISBN: 978-86-7220-106-2
  • Ljuba Mandić: Uputstva za vežbe iz biohemije

Supplementary coursebooks:

  • Vesna Niketić: Principi strukture i aktivnosti proteina, Hemijski fakultet, 1995.
  • J. Koolman, K. H. Roehm: Color Atlas of Biochemistry, 2005.
  • D. Voet, J. Voet: Biochemistry, Wiley, New York, 1995.

Additional material:

—

  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

5 points (3 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. The role of biochemistry as the science which studies the molecular aspects of the functioning of living systems.
  2. The cell: the principles of formation, biochemical properties, methods in cell research.
  3. Proteins: the three-dimensional structure (conformation; conformational stability; conformational transitions: protein folding/unfolding).
  4. A comparative overview of protein structure and function; protein-ligand interactions.
  5. Hemoglobin: an example/model of an allosteric protein.
  6. Enzymes: specificity and efficiency of action; kinetics; regulation of enzyme activity.
  7. Mechanisms of enzyme action: acid-base and covalent catalysis. Coenzymes.
  8. Metabolism: thermodynamic foundations and strategy; basic characteristics.
  9. Glycolysis. The pentose phosphate pathway and gluconeogenesis. Glycogen metabolism.
  10. The citric acid cycle. The connection of intermediates with biosynthesis pathways.
  11. Oxidative phosphorylation.
  12. Metabolism of fats and fatty acids.
  13. The metabolism of amino acids and the urea cycle.
  14. Nucleic acids: conformation and conformational stability of DNA and RNA; conformational transitions in DNA; interactions of DNA with ligands (small molecules, proteins).
  15. Expression and transmission of genetic information.

Labwork:

10 points (3 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  1. Fractionation of rat liver cells.
  2. Investigating the properties of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin derivatives.
  3. Enzymes. Factors influencing enzyme activity.
  4. Kinetic properties of enzymes.
  5. Glycolysis in yeast extracts. Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.
  6. Isolation, purification and investigation of the spectroscopic properties of DNA.

Colloquia:

30 points

Written exam:

15 points

Oral exam:

40 points