Biochemistry Course

Lesson 1 • Amino Acids and Peptide Bonds

Covers the structure, classification, and chemical properties of the 20 standard amino acids. Links amino acid chemistry to protein architecture studied later.

Lesson 2 • Nucleotides and Nucleic Acid Basics

Presents nucleotide components and the primary structures of DNA and RNA. Prepares learners for molecular genetics and gene expression topics ahead.

Lesson 3 • Water and Biological Molecules

Examines water's unique properties and their role in biomolecular interactions. Provides the chemical foundation for understanding macromolecule behaviour.

Lesson 4 • Carbohydrates: Structure and Function

Introduces monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides with emphasis on stereochemistry. Connects carbohydrate structure to energy storage and cell signalling roles.

Lesson 1 • Tertiary and Quaternary Structure

Examines forces stabilising three-dimensional folds and multi-subunit assemblies. Illustrates how quaternary organisation enables cooperative function.

Lesson 2 • Primary and Secondary Structure

Analyses amino acid sequence determinism and recurring secondary motifs. Connects sequence to the folding hierarchy explored in subsequent sections.

Lesson 3 • Myoglobin and Haemoglobin as Models

Uses oxygen-binding proteins to illustrate structure-function relationships and allostery. Provides a concrete model for enzyme regulation concepts ahead.

Lesson 4 • Protein Purification and Analysis

Introduces laboratory strategies for isolating and characterising proteins. Grounds theoretical knowledge in practical analytical techniques.

Lesson 1 • Enzyme Inhibition

Distinguishes competitive, uncompetitive, and mixed inhibition modes with kinetic signatures. Connects inhibition patterns to pharmaceutical drug design.

Lesson 2 • Enzyme Classes and Reaction Mechanisms

Surveys the six enzyme classes and selected mechanistic examples including serine proteases. Reinforces catalytic principles with structurally characterised enzymes.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Enzyme Catalysis

Explains how enzymes lower activation energy through transition-state stabilisation. Establishes mechanistic vocabulary used throughout the chapter.

Lesson 4 • Allosteric Regulation of Enzymes

Examines sigmoidal kinetics, allosteric activators, and inhibitors in metabolic control. Bridges enzyme regulation to pathway-level control discussed in metabolism chapters.

Lesson 1 • ATP as the Energy Currency

Analyses ATP structure, hydrolysis energetics, and its role in driving biosynthesis and transport. Establishes ATP as the central node linking catabolism and anabolism.

Lesson 2 • Overview of Metabolic Pathways

Maps catabolic and anabolic routes and their interconnections at key branch points. Orients learners to the metabolic landscape before detailed pathway study.

Lesson 3 • Thermodynamics in Biological Systems

Applies Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy to biochemical reactions. Provides the energetic logic underlying all metabolic pathways covered ahead.

Lesson 1 • Glycogen Metabolism and Gluconeogenesis

Covers glycogen synthesis and breakdown plus the gluconeogenic bypass reactions. Explains hormonal regulation coordinating glucose homeostasis.

Lesson 2 • Citric Acid Cycle

Traces eight reactions of the cycle, tracking carbon fate and electron carrier production. Connects cycle intermediates to biosynthetic precursor roles.

Lesson 3 • Oxidative Phosphorylation

Describes the electron transport chain complexes, proton gradient, and ATP synthase mechanism. Calculates theoretical ATP yield from complete glucose oxidation.

Lesson 4 • Glycolysis: Pathway and Regulation

Details the ten enzymatic steps converting glucose to pyruvate with energy accounting. Identifies key regulatory enzymes and their allosteric effectors.

Lesson 1 • Fatty Acid Oxidation

Details beta-oxidation steps, ATP yield calculation, and handling of unsaturated fatty acids. Connects lipid catabolism to acetyl-CoA entry into the citric acid cycle.

Lesson 2 • Cholesterol and Steroid Metabolism

Outlines the mevalonate pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis and steroid hormone production. Connects cholesterol regulation to lipoprotein transport and cardiovascular relevance.

Lesson 3 • Fatty Acid and Lipid Synthesis

Examines fatty acid synthase complex, elongation, desaturation, and triacylglycerol assembly. Contrasts anabolic and catabolic routes in different cellular compartments.

Lesson 4 • Ketone Body Metabolism

Covers ketogenesis in the liver and ketone utilisation in peripheral tissues during fasting. Links ketone body production to metabolic state and clinical ketoacidosis.

Lesson 1 • Transcription and RNA Processing

Details RNA polymerase function, promoter recognition, and eukaryotic pre-mRNA processing. Links transcript maturation to translational efficiency.

Lesson 2 • Translation and the Genetic Code

Explains codon-anticodon recognition, ribosome structure, and the three phases of translation. Connects codon usage and fidelity to protein synthesis accuracy.

Lesson 3 • DNA Repair and Genome Stability

Surveys base excision, nucleotide excision, and mismatch repair pathways. Connects repair deficiencies to mutagenesis and disease susceptibility.

Lesson 4 • Gene Expression Regulation

Covers transcriptional activators, repressors, epigenetic modifications, and RNA-level control. Integrates regulatory layers into a unified model of gene expression control.

Lesson 1 • AMPK and Energy Sensing

Examines AMP-activated protein kinase as a cellular energy gauge coordinating catabolism and anabolism. Connects AMPK to exercise physiology and pharmacological targets.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Signal Transduction

Introduces receptor classes, second messengers, and signal amplification cascades. Provides the conceptual framework for all signalling pathways in this chapter.

Lesson 3 • Insulin and Glucagon Signalling

Traces insulin receptor activation through PI3K-Akt to GLUT4 translocation and glycogen synthesis. Contrasts glucagon-driven cAMP signalling for glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Lesson 4 • Tissue-Specific Metabolic Roles

Compares metabolic specialisation of liver, muscle, adipose, and brain under fed and fasted states. Synthesises pathway knowledge into an integrated physiological picture.