Biochemistry (BIOCHEM)
Professor Kreuzer, Interim Vice-Chair (255 Nanaline H. Duke); Professor Spicer, Director of Graduate Studies (235 Nanaline H. Duke); Professors Bennett, Been, Beese, Beratan, Casey, Donald, Greenleaf, Hellinga, Hershfield, Hill, Hsieh, Kreuzer, Lefkowitz, Modrich, Newgard, Rajagopalan, D. Richardson, J. Richardson, Siegel, Simon, Spicer, Stamler, Steege, Toone; Associate Professors Fitzgerald, Greene, Kuehn, Oas, York; Assistant Professors Rusche and Zhou; Professors Emeriti Fridovich, Gross, Hammes, Kirshner, Sage, Webster; Adjunct Professors Bell and Blackshear
Graduate work in the Department of Biochemistry is offered leading to the PhD degree. Preparation for such graduate study may take diverse forms. Undergraduate majors in chemistry, biology, mathematics, or physics are welcome, but adequate preparation in chemistry is essential. Graduate specialization areas include protein structure and function, crystallography and NMR of macromolecules, nucleic acid structure and function, lipid biochemistry, membrane structure and function, molecular genetics, and enzyme mechanisms. The recommended core requirements consist of mini-courses 258/259 and 267/268, and 291 (or equivalent training), and additional courses in the area of specialization. The Biochemistry Department, in cooperation with the University Programs in Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Structural Biology and Biophysics, and Biological Chemistry, offers biochemistry students the opportunity to pursue advanced research and study to fulfill the requirements for the PhD degree related to these fields.
200. General Biochemistry. An introductory survey of fundamental aspects of biochemistry with emphasis on the structure of macromolecules, mechanism of enzyme action, metabolic pathways, biochemical genetics, and the structure and functions of special tissues. Designed for medical students; graduate students only with consent of instructor. Instructors: Raetz, Garcia-Blanco, and Nicchitta. 4 units.
210. Research Independent Study. Individual research in a field of special interest, under the supervision of a faculty member, the major product of which is a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic. Designed for students interested in either a laboratory or a library project in biochemistry. One course for undergraduate students. One to twelve units for graduate students. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
222. Structure of Biological Macromolecules. Computer graphics intensive study of some of the biological macromolecules whose three-dimensional structures have been determined at high resolution. Emphasis on the patterns and determinants of protein structure. Two-hour discussion session each week along with computer-based lessons and projects. Instructors: D. Richardson and J. Richardson. 3 units. C-L: Structural Biology and Biophysics 222, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 252
227. Introductory Biochemistry I: Intermediary Metabolism. Chemistry of the constituents of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids and their metabolic interrelationships. Prerequisite: two semesters of organic chemistry. Instructors: Greenleaf and staff. 3 units.
228. Introductory Biochemistry II. Structure, function, and biosynthesis of biological macromolecules and regulation of their synthesis. Intermediary metabolism and metabolic utilization of energy. Biochemistry of biological membranes, receptors, and signal transduction via membrane receptors. Prerequisite: organic chemistry and Biochemistry 227. Instructors: Been and staff. 3 units.
258. Structural Biochemistry I. Principles of modern structural biology. Protein-nucleic acid recognition, enzymatic reactions, viruses, immunoglobulins, signal transduction, and structure-based drug design described in terms of the atomic properties of biological macromolecules. Discussion of methods of structure determination with particular emphasis on macromolecular X-ray crystallography NMR methods, homology modeling, and bioinformatics. Students use molecular graphics tutorials and Internet databases to view and analyze structures. Prerequisites: organic chemistry and introductory biochemistry. Instructors: Beese and staff. 2 units. C-L: Cell and Molecular Biology 258, Cell Biology 258, University Program in Genetics 258, Immunology 258, Structural Biology and Biophysics 258, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 258
259. Structural Biochemistry II. Continuation of Biochemistry 258. Structure/function analysis of proteins as enzymes, multiple ligand binding, protein folding and stability, allostery, protein-protein interactions. Prerequisites: Biochemistry 258, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and introductory biochemistry. Instructors: Hellinga and staff. 2 units. C-L: Cell Biology 259, Immunology 259, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics 259, Structural Biology and Biophysics 259, University Program in Genetics 259
265S. Seminar. Topics and instructors announced each semester. 2 units or variable. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
267. Biochemical Genetics I: DNA and Genome Stability. Chromosome structure, replication, repair, genetic recombination, mutation and chromosome rearrangement. Minicourse, 1st half-semester. Instructors: Hsieh and Staff. 2 units.
268. Biochemical Genetics II: From RNA to Protein. Mechanisms of transcription, splicing, catalytic RNA, RNA editing, mRNA stability and translation. Mini-course, 2nd half semester. Instructors: Steege and Staff. 2 units. C-L: Cell Biology 268, Immunology 268, University Program in Genetics 268
291. Physical Biochemistry. Basic principles of physical chemistry as applied to biological systems. Topics include thermodynamics, kinetics, statistical mechanics, spectroscopy, and diffraction theory. Concepts discussed in the context of the biochemistry and behavior of biological macromolecules. Emphasis on quantitative understanding of biochemical phenomena, with extensive problem solving as an instructive tool. Prerequisite: undergraduate physical chemistry and one year of calculus. Instructor: Oas and staff. 3 units. C-L: Structural Biology and Biophysics 291
336. Bioorganic Chemistry. 4 units. C-L: see Chemistry 336
345. Biochemistry Seminar. Required of all second- and third-year biochemistry students. Credit/no credit grading only. Instructor: Staff. 1 unit.
346. Biochemistry Seminar. Required of all second- and third-year biochemistry students. Credit/no credit grading only. Instructor: Staff. 1 unit.
417. Cellular Signaling. 3 units. C-L: see Cell Biology 417; also C-L: Molecular Cancer Biology 417, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology 417
