Biochemistry I Syllabus and Course Structure Overview

Course Overview

This syllabus outlines the structure, objectives, policies, and weekly plan for a college-level Biochemistry I course. The course covers foundational topics in biochemistry, including the structure and function of proteins, enzymes, and regulatory strategies, as well as laboratory techniques and safety.

Course Objectives

• Understand the composition and structure of proteins, one of the major macromolecules in biological systems.

• Explore protein structure, function, and enzyme catalysis.

• Analyze enzyme mechanisms, catalytic strategies, and regulatory strategies.

• Develop laboratory skills for protein and enzyme analysis.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the structure and function of proteins and how proteins gain their three-dimensional structures.

• Explain the techniques used to investigate proteins.

• Interpret enzyme mechanisms and regulatory strategies.

• Analyze catalytic and regulatory strategies of enzymes.

Weekly Lecture Plan

Week	Subjects of the Week	Important Dates
1	Introduction to the Course & Biochemical Science	-
2	Protein Composition and Structure	-
3	Protein Composition and Structure	-
4	Exploring Proteins and Proteomes	-
5	Exploring Proteins and Proteomes	-
6	Hemoglobin: Portrait of a Protein in Action	Midterm Exam: Week 6, Thursday
7	Hemoglobin: Portrait of a Protein in Action	-
8	Enzymes: Basic Concepts and Kinetics	-
9	Enzymes: Basic Concepts and Kinetics	-
10	Catalytic Strategies	-
11	Catalytic Strategies	-
12	Regulatory Strategies	-
13	Regulatory Strategies	-

Weekly Lab Plan

Week	Subjects of the Week	Important Dates
1	Introduction / Lab safety rules	-
2	Experiment 1: Amino Acid Quantification (theory)	-
3	Experiment 1: Amino Acid Quantification (lab)	Lab Report #1 Due: Wednesday, 23:00
4	Experiment 2: Protein Quantification (theory)	-
5	Experiment 2: Protein Quantification (lab)	Lab Report #2 Due: Wednesday, 23:00
6	Experiment 3: Enzyme Kinetics (theory)	-
7	Experiment 3: Enzyme Kinetics (lab)	Lab Report #3 Due: Wednesday, 23:00
8	Experiment 4: Protein Isolation from Plants (theory)	-
9	Experiment 4: Protein Isolation from Plants (lab)	Lab Report #4 Due: Wednesday, 23:00
10	Experiment 5: Protein Purification (theory)	-
11	Experiment 5: Protein Purification (lab)	Lab Report #5 Due: Wednesday, 23:00
12	Review	-

Assessment and Grading

• Lab Performance & Reports: 40%

• Midterm Exam: 25%

• Final Exam: 35%

All exams are closed-book. Lab reports must follow the provided format and be submitted on time.

Course Policies

• Attendance is mandatory for both lectures and labs.

• Students must adhere to lab safety rules and submit reports on time.

• Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.

• Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is allowed only as specified by the instructor.

Required and Recommended Materials

• Required: Selected articles and review articles (available via LMS).

• Recommended Textbooks:

  • Biochemistry (8th Edition) by Berg, Tymoczko, Gatto, Stryer

  • Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (8th Edition)

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Score (%)
AA	90-100
BA	85-89
BB	80-84
CB	75-79
CC	70-74
DC	65-69
DD	60-64
FF	0-59

Additional Info

• Students are responsible for keeping up with announcements and deadlines via the LMS.

• Lab safety and academic honesty are emphasized throughout the course.