Course Handbook Outline for Pgy 2420

1. University of Zambia
School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacy
Terms I – 4
Period: 2015/2016
PMY 2420 Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course Title GENERAL & METABOLIC BIOCHEMISTRY
Course Code PGY 2420
Prerequisites Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology from School of Natural Sciences, UNZA*
Course Website TBS (To be sourced)
Course Coordinator ??
Total Teaching Hours 120 Hours
Total Contact Hours for Lab /
Clinical/Tutorials / Workshops
Sessions
120 Hours
Course Description - General and Metabolic Biochemistry is a foundation course that guides the students of
chemistry into the basics of biological systems.
- It offers insight into the fundamentals of the structure and function of the important
biomolecules of living organisms.
- The course builds on the knowledge of the synthesis and metabolism of these biomolecules.
- The contribution of each type of biomolecule with regards to enzymatic activity, energy
production, genetic information transfer and chemical and hormonal communication and
regulation is also covered in this course.
- The course gently eases the students into nutritional and clinical biochemistry as well as
laying an appreciative ground of the variety of pharmacologically useful chemical
components of plants
A. ………..Credit Units
B. AIM: To enable the students to have a basic understanding of the structure, function and metabolism of biomolecules and carry out basic
biochemical techniques
C. The OBJECTIVES of the course are to:
i. Illustrate the properties of water
ii. Describe the structure of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and vitamins.
iii. Explain the catalytic action, enzyme kinetics and the clinical importance of enzymes
iv. Conduct basic biochemical techniques including electrophoresis, chromatography and calorimetry.
v. Illustrate various pathways of energy metabolism
vi. Explain the link between energy metabolism and synthetic pathways of the cell
vii. Describe the basic metabolism of nitrogenous compounds including nucleic acid and protein synthesis
viii. Outline the basic aspects of hormones
ix. Illustrate the different roles of biomolecules for human nutritional biochemistry
x. Describe the phytochemicals components of plants of potential medicinal value

2. TEXTBOOKS
1. Book Title USMLE Road Map - Biochemistry
Author(s) Richard G MacDonald, William G. Chaney
Publisher The McGraw-Hill Companies
Year 2007
Edition Series
ISBN 0-07-159319-5 - eVersion
0-07-144205-7 – print version
2. Book Title BRS - Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics
Editors Todd A. Swanson, Sandra I. Kim, Marc J. Glucksman
Publisher Lippincot Williams and Wilkins
Year 2010
Edition 5th
Edition
ISBN 2009029693
3. Book Title Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry
Editors Robert K. Murray, David A Bender, Kathleen M. Botham, Peter J. Kennelly, Victor W.
Rodwell , P. Anthony Weil
Publisher The McGraw-Hill Companies
Year 2009
Edition 28th
Edition
ISBN 978-0-07-162591-3
4. Book Title Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry
Authors Richard A. Harvey, Denise R. Ferrier
Publisher Lippincot Williams and Wilkins
Year 2011
Edition 5th
Year
ISBN 978-1-60831-412-6
5. Book Title Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations
Author Thomas M. Devlin
Publisher Wiley Liss, Inc.
Year 1997
Edition 4Th
Edition
ISBN 0-471-15451-2
Other references 6. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry 4th
Edition
7. Laboratory Experiments for General, Organic and Biochemistry
8. Modern Experimental Biochemistry
9. A Manual for Biochemistry Protocols
10. Rapid Review – Biochemistry
11. Nutritional Biochemistry, 2nd
Edition, 1999
12. Lecture Notes: Clinical Biochemistry, 2010
Assessment
Assessment Due Date Percentage
Test 1 08/12/2016 15%
Test 2 20/04/2016 15%
Assignments TBC 5%
Laboratory Reports TBA 5%
Course Competences
THE EXPECTED COMPETENCES ARE:
1. Illustrates the properties of water
2. Describes the structure and function of biomolecules
3. Illustrates the various pathways of energy metabolism
4. Outlines the salient features of hormones
5. Applies nutritional biochemistry knowledge to nutritional support pharmacy
6. Describe the biological requirements of phytochemicals elements from natural sources
7. Conduct biochemical lab techniques

3. Teaching & Learning Methods
1. Class lectures and lecture notes are designed to achieve the course objectives.
2. Students should read the assigned topics from recommended textbooks before class and participate in class.
3. Students should ask questions - Ask lots of questions.
4. Tutorials will be conducted to encourage discussions and further understanding of material taught in lectures.
5. Students are expected to have answers to tutorial questions for them to be allowed to attend.
6. Students are expected to attend ALL lectures. Students with less than 85% attendance will not be allowed to write end of year
examinations*
7. Students should undertake ALL laboratory practicals
8. You are responsible for all material covered in this course.
9. Please communicate any concerns or issues either in class, or during the tutorials
COURSE CONTENT
UNIT
TOPICS
TIME (hours) REFERENCE
1. Foundational Concepts of
Biochemistry
- Cellular, Chemical, Physical, Genetic and
Evolutionary Foundations
- Water
- Electrolytes
- Acids and Bases
- pH
- Buffers
- Amphipathic Molecules
20
6: Chapter 1
1: Chapter 1
2. Structures and Catalysis - Water
- Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
- The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins
- Protein Function
- Enzymes
- Carbohydrates and Glycobiology
- Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids DNA-Based
Information Technologies
- Lipids
- Biological Membranes and Transport
- Biosignaling
20
6: Part I
2: Chapter 23
1: Chapter 1,
3. Bioenergetics and Metabolism - Principles of Bioenergetics
- Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, and the Pentose
Phosphate Pathway
- Principles of Metabolic Regulation, Illustrated
with the Metabolism of Glucose and Glycogen
- The Citric Acid Cycle
- Fatty Acid Catabolism
- Amino Acid Oxidation and the Production
of Urea
- Oxidative Phosphorylation and
Photophosphorylation
- Carbohydrate Biosynthesis in Plants
and Bacteria
- Lipid Biosynthesis
- Biosynthesis of Amino Acids, Nucleotides, and
Related Molecules
- Integration and Hormonal Regulation of
Mammalian Metabolism
20
6: Part II
2: Chapter 6, 9,
10, 14, 15, 19
1: Chapter 1, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
4. Information Pathways - Genes and Chromosomes
- DNA Metabolism
- RNA Metabolism
- Protein Metabolism
- Regulation of Gene Expression
20
6: Part III
2: Chapter 3, 4

4. 5. Nutritional Biochemistry - General introduction of nutritional chemicals
(lipids, Proteins, vitamins, inorganic etc)
- Digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Nutrients that resist or escape Digestion
- Regulation of energy metabolism
- Energy requirements
20 11: Chapters 2-1
6. Clinical Biochemistry - Disturbances of water, sodium and potassium
balance
- Acid–base balance and oxygen transport
- Renal disease
- Disorders of calcium, phosphate and magnesium
metabolism
- Diabetes mellitus and hypoglycaemia
- Disorders of the hypothalamus and pituitary
- Abnormalities of thyroid function
- Disorders of the adrenal cortex and medulla
- Investigation of gonadal function, infertility,
menstrual irregularities and hirsutism
- Pregnancy and antenatal screening
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Liver disease
- Gastrointestinal tract disease
- Nutrition
- Trauma, inflammation, immunity and
malignancy
- Disorders of iron and orphyrin metabolism
- Uric acid, gout and purine metabolism
- Central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid
- Therapeutic drug monitoring and chemical
toxicology
- Clinical biochemistry in paediatrics and
geriatrics
20
12: Chapters 2-2
Additional Notes
Examination
Format
Two papers: Paper I and Paper II: Exact format TBC to students at least 14 days before the date of
Examination
Supplementary
Exams
TBA by senate: Format will be similar to that of the main examination
Estimated end
Date
Lectures to end as soon as study period begins
Cheating /
Unusual activities
The University Zambia Policy on this issue, please read
Attendance 100% attendance in all activities is expected.
Continuous
Assessment [CA]
Please take CA very serious. Students with no CA will not be allowed to sit for final examinations