Registry

Indicative Syllabus:

PROTEINS:

    * Introduction: amino acid structures and properties, R-groups, ionizations

    * Proteins: orders of structure, importance of tertiary/ quaternary structures, denaturation/ renaturation

    * Introduction to protein sequencing; sequence similarities and phylogenetic relationships

    * Properties of fibrous proteins: keratins, collagen and elastin

    * Properties of globular proteins: myoglobin and haemoglobin

    * Molecular basis of sickle cell anaemia

CARBOHYDRATES:

    * Overview; glycoproteins: classification and examples

    * Monosaccharides, disaccharides, homo- and hetero-polymers

    * Oligosaccharides as cellular markers: antigens, lectins, etc.

LIPIDS:

    * Overview: glycolipids, bilayers, etc.

    * Liposomes and their applications; plasma lipoprotein structures and roles

ENZYMES:

    * Function and measurement of activity; kinetics and plots; multisubstrate reactions

    * Serine proteases: active sites and reaction mechanism

    * Enzyme inhibition in vitro and regulation of enzyme activity in vivo.

    * Enzymes as analytical tools

METABOLISM:

    * Introduction, bioenergetics, structure and function of ATP and NADPH/ NADH

    * Glycolysis: preparatory, energy-yielding and regulatory reactions and enzymes

    * Citric acid (TCA) cycle: overview, complete reactions and regulation; pentose phosphate pathway

    * Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation

    * Fatty acid catabolism: transport, oxidation reactions and regulation

    * Oxidation, fates and biosynthesis of fatty acids

    * Amino acid metabolism: fates of R- and amino groups; the urea cycle

    * Reactions and regulation of gluconeogenesis; glycogen synthesis

    * Lipid biosynthesis: fatty acid synthase complex, regulation

    * Amino acid biosynthesis and regulation, nitrogen balance and protein turnover