Hong Kong Baptist University

Faculty of Science
Department of Chemistry

1


Title (Units): CHEM 2180/4005 BIOCHEMISTRY (3,3,0)

Course Aims: This semester course introduces the principles of Biochemistry with
special reference to the common needs of chemistry students. This
course is to comprehensively provide students a basic understanding of
the enzymatic kinetics, structures and properties of biomolecules, their
metabolisms in living organisms, and the metabolic regulation.

Pre-requisite: CHEM 2009 Organic Chemistry II or CHEM 2036 Fundamentals of
Organic Chemistry

Course
Instructor(s):
M.S. Wong, and A.W.M. Lee

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Knowledge
1 Identify structures and describe chemical properties of biomolecules
2 Explain basic concept of enzymatic kinetics and bioenergetics
3 Describe metabolisms in living organisms and the metabolic regulation
Skill
4 Identify and draw structures for simple biomolecules
5 Analyze simple enzymatic kinetics data and determine the bioenergetics of
biomolecules
6 Apply the basic metabolic pathway of simple biomolecules and the knowledge for the
biologically related issues in daily life

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs):

CILOs TLAs will include the following:
1,4
Students will use three-dimensional molecular structures to assist the
visualization of biomolecules and understand the properties of
biomolecules.
2,5
Students will analyze data from the real-life examples to understand the
concept of enzymatic kinetics and bioenergetics of organic molecules.
3,6
Students will provide some daily-life examples to make the connection
between biochemistry and the biologically related issues such as health
and nutrition issues.

Hong Kong Baptist University
Faculty of Science
Department of Chemistry

2


Assessment:

No. Assessment
Methods
Weighting CILOs to
be
addressed
Remarks

1

Tests and
Continuous
Assessment



35%

1-2, 4-5
Two 1-hour Tests and Continuous
Assessment are designed to measure
how well the students have learned the
basic concepts and fundamental theory
of biochemistry.


2



Final
Examination





65%


1-6
Final Examination questions are
designed to see how far students have
achieved their intended learning
outcomes. Questions will primarily be
analysis and skills based to assess the
students versatility in solving problems
of biochemistry.


Learning Outcomes and Weighting:

Contents CILO
No.
Teaching
(in hours)
I. &
II.
Introduction and The Composition of Living Matter:
Biomolecules
1,4 14
III. Enzymes 2,5 4
IV. Carbohydrate Metabolism 3,6 8
V. Lipid Metabolism 3,6 6
VI. Bioenergetics 2,5 4
VII. Metabolism of Nitrogen 3,6 4

Textbook: R.H. Garrett, and C.M. Grisham, Biochemistry, 4
th
Ed., Thomson Brooks/Cole,
2010.

References: M.K. Campbell and S.O. Farrell, Biochemistry, 6
th
Ed., Thomson Brooks/Cole,
2009.
R. Horton, L. A. Moran, G. Scrimgeour, M. Perry, D. Rawn, Principles of
Biochemistry, 4
th
Edition, Prentice Hall, 2006.
D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox, Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 4
th
Edition,
W.H. Freeman and Company, 2005.

Hong Kong Baptist University
Faculty of Science
Department of Chemistry

3


Course Contents in Outline:

Topic Hours

I. Introduction 1

II. The Composition of Living Matter: Biomolecules 13
A. The Structure and Chemical Properties of Carbohydrates
1. Monosaccharides, Disaccharides
2. Oligosaccharides
3. Polysaccharides
4. Carbohydrate Reactions and Structure Determination
B. The Structure and Chemical Properties of Lipids
1. Fats, Oil and Fatty Acids
2. Glycerides and Glycolipids
3. Phospholipids and Sphingolipids
C. The Structure and Chemical Properties of Proteins
1. Building Blocks of Proteins Amino Acids
2. Peptides, Polypeptides and Proteins
3. Determination of the Primary Structure of Proteins
D. The Structure and Chemical Properties of Genetic Materials
1. Nucleosides
2. Nucleotides
3. Nucleic Acids
4. DNA and RNA

III. Enzymes 4
A. Classification of Enzymes
B. Introduction to Enzyme Kinetics

IV. Carbohydrate Metabolism 8
A. Major Pathways of Carbohydrate Catabolism
B. Gluconeogenesis

V. Lipid Metabolism 6
A. Fatty Acids Catabolism
B. Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids

VI. Bioenergetics 4
A. Electron Carriers and Electron Transport
B. Oxidative Phosphorylation

VII. Metabolism of Nitrogen 4
A. Catabolism of amino acids
B. Biosynthesis of amino acids