Instructor:  Dr. Dennis L. Merat

Office Hours:  Room S-302B
                         M            9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

                         T            8:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
                                      11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

                        W            9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

                         R            8:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

                          F            9:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
 
 

Phone Numbers:   321-4201 (Office)
                            362-3682 (Home, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.)

E – mail:   dmerat@cbu.edu

Course Description:  This course is a continuation of Biochemistry I providing a comprehensive introduction to the study of metabolic pathways with emphasis on basic principles of regulation.  The mechanism of hormone action, membrane transport, and interrelationships between signal transduction and metabolic regulation will be discussed.  The course will conclude with an introduction to molecular biology including DNA replication, transcription, and translation.

Prerequisites:  CHEM 315, CHEM 315L

Required Texts and Materials:

    1.  Biochemistry, Third Edition, by D. Voet & J. G. Voet; John Wiley &
         Sons, Inc., 2004.  ISBN: 0-471-19350-X

    2.  Scientific Calculator

    3.   Biochemistry Laboratory, by Rodney Boyer, Benjamin Cummings,
          2006.

General Course Goals:  The course is designed to:

    1)   introduce students to the basic concepts required for the study of
          metabolism and molecular biology and

    2)   provide an in-depth study of metabolism and signal transduction with
          an emphasis on regulatory mechanisms.

Attendance:  Regular class attendance is expected.

Assignments: You are expected to read textbook chapters listed on the syllabus prior to coming to class.  You are responsible for learning all material that is either presented or assigned during class lecture/demonstrations.  In addition, you will be responsible for all assigned questions and problems.

Point Distribution:

       4  hour tests  @   100  points  each                400  points
       Homework                                                      50  points
       Comprehensive Final Examination                  150  points
                                                                            600  points

Grading Policy:

          Average  (%)                       Letter Grade

             90 -- 100                                    A
             80 --  89                                     B
             65 --  79                                     C
             54 --  64                                     D
             53 or below                                 F

The student’s average for this course is calculated by dividing the total points earned by 600, then multiplying by 100.  If your scores are within these ranges, you are guaranteed the appropriate letter grade for the range within which your scores fall.
For problems involving numeric calculations, ALL WORK, except simple arithmetic, must be shown.  Calculators may be used on examinations when required.   If your calculator is programmable and/or has a constant memory, you must be prepared to remove the battery at any time during the examination.  Calculators may not be shared.  Calculators must be removed from their case before the examination begins.
 The hour and final examinations will be taken in-class and will be closed book/closed notes.  If the percentage of questions answered correctly on the final examination is higher than the percentage of questions answered on the lowest of the hour tests, the percentage of correct answers score on the final examination will replace the lowest score on the hour tests.

Test Dates:

 Hour tests will be given at the beginning of class on the following dates:

     February 6
     March 1
     March 31
     April 26

Comprehensive Final Examination

    The date of the comprehensive final examination will be announced.

Make-up Policy:  Makeup tests will be given only under the most extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness or death in the family.  Make-up tests may be more difficult than the in-class tests.

Homework:  Homework assignments will be collected on the assigned due dates.  Only selected problems may be graded on the homework assignments.  Late assignments will be accepted only under the most extenuating circumstances.

Each homework assignment will be graded on a 5 point scale; the homework grade for the semester will be computed using the following formula:

     (Sum of numerator homework scores/ total number assignments) x 10
 

Listing of Lecture Topics:
 

Note:  The sequence of major topics that will be covered this semester are listed below.  Rate and sequence of coverage of material may vary from the schedule.  Reading assignments are given in parentheses following the topic(s) and refer to the textbook.  Additional reading assignments will be made during the course of the lecture.
 

 Overview of Metabolism  (Chapter 16)

 Isotopes in Biochemistry  (Chapter 16)

 Carbohydrates and Glycolysis  (Chapters 11 and 17)

 Glycogen Metabolism  (Chapter 18)

 Citric Acid Cycle  (Chapter 21)

 Oxidative Phosphorylation  (Chapter 22)

 Signal Transduction  (Chapter 19)

 Special Topics in Carbohydrate Metabolism  (Chapter 23)

 Photosynthesis  (Chapter 24)

 Membrane Transport (Chapter 20)

 Lipids and Lipid Metabolism  (Chapters 11 and 25)

 Amino Acid Metabolism  (Chapter 26)

 Nucleotide Metabolism  (Chapter 28)

 Nucleic Acid Structures  (Chapter 29)

 Replication, Transcription, and Translation  (Chapters 30, 31, and 32)