Biochemistry

Chemical processes occur continuously within all cells of living organisms. They form a complex network of reactions that allow the extraction of usable energy from food, the synthesis of cellular building blocks, and the storage and retrieval of genetic information. This course covers the structure and function of the most important classes of biological molecules: proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids. The course places special emphasis on proteins as the "workers of the cell", and covers enzymatic reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and bioenergetics. Further, central metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, will be investigated. We will contrast pathways in which nutrients are degraded with those in which biological molecules are synthesized. In this context, cellular organelles will be discussed as the compartments of biochemical reactions. Finally, the course will also cover the role of biomolecules in the use and storage of genetic information. The experimental part of the course includes hands-on training in biochemical techniques.