The cell factory (BI205)

Lecture Course Description (2010-2011):

Metabolic pathways: Making ATP
Glycolysis
Where it happens in the cell, the starting material and products; how it is controlled; what happens if you do not have enough oxygen; use of sugars other than glucose.
Citric acid cycle
Where it happens in the cell, the starting material and products; how it is controlled; how it intersects with other metabolic pathways.
Electron transport and ATP synthesis
Finally getting the energy from glucose. Where it happens in the cell, the starting material and products; why we need oxygen; deadly poisons.

Gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate pathway and glycogen metabolism
Glucose 6-phosphate: the central component of the pentose phosphate pathway, gluconeogenesis and glycogen metabolism.
Regulatory events in carbohydrate pathways; interactions between anabolic and catabolic pathways; energy storage.      

Photobiology
Biologically important interactions with light.
Photosynthesis (light and dark phases).
Biochemistry of the visual process.                               

Lipid metabolism
Fatty Acid Synthesis.
Synthesis of Triacylglycerols and Glycerophospholipids.
Fatty Acid Oxidation.
Hormonal Regulation of Lipid Metabolism.
Absorption and Mobilization of Fuel lipids in Mammals.
Ketone bodies are fuel molecules

The metabolism of nitrogen
Overview of nitrogen metabolism, and nitrogen-containing biomolecules.
Essential and non-essential amino acids; amino acids as a source of energy.
Amino acid catabolism: role of transaminases, pyridoxal phosphate, glutamate dehydrogenase.
Ammonia detoxification and the urea cycle.
Amino acids as precursors of other nitrogen-containing compounds, especially purines and pyrimidines.

Signal transduction and Integration of metabolism
G Proteins.
The Adenylyl Cyclase Signaling Pathway.
The Inositol-Phospholipid Signaling Pathway.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
Integration of metabolism

Carbohydrates and their biochemical importance in the cell
Monosaccharides; basic structure, derivatives and biochemical reactions.
Oligosaccharides; the glycosidic bond, disaccharides and longer-chain oligosaccharides, Lactose intolerance, prebiotics, anti-microbial and anti-tumour agents.
Polysaccharides; Structural polysaccharides and their role in the cell walls of plants, molluscs and fungi Polysaccharides that form gels. Biotechnological and biomedical uses of polysaccharides: from dietary fibre and clothes to exploding teeth!
Storage polysaccharides; glycogen, starch and dextran.
Glycoconjugates; hybrid molecules that contain carbohydrate components, e.g. nucleic acids, glycolipids, glycoproteins and proteoglycans.

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