Introduction, scope and importance of biochemistry;
• Brief introduction of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells;
• Bio-macromolecules: composition and organization;
• Energy and Principles of bioenergetics;
• Water: Properties of water, acid/base properties, dissociation of water and pH value, pH buffering capacity, transportation mechanisms across bio-membranes and osmosis,
• Proteins: Amino acids - structure, nomenclature, classification, Primary structure of proteins - peptide bond, sequencing, synthesis, Secondary structure - α-helices, β-sheets, Three dimensional structure of proteins, methods for protein structural determination - Xray, NMR and homology modeling, tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins, protein denaturation, Methods for purifying and studying proteins; • Enzymes: functions, mode of action, specificity and inhibition, classification and nomenclature, factors affecting enzymes activity,
• Introduction to carbohydrates (Glycobiology): biosynthesis, metabolism, glycolysis, Kerbs cycle, Mitochondrial electron transport chain and ATP synthesis;
• Lipids: introduction, lipogenesis, lipids and lipoproteins in relation to lipid storage
diseases, sterol and steroids; Overview of nucleic acids
