Bio200b:  Biological Molecules

 

Robert Fairman

rfairman@haverford.edu

Sharpless 311, x4205

Office hours: by appointment

 

Date

Lecture

Readings

Lab

January

17

Review of Functional Groups

 

An introduction to basic building blocks in biology

ECB Ch. 2 and Panels 2-1, 2-2, 2-5

 

 

Lab 1:

Survey of web-based resources for macromolecular structures

 

19

Protein function & structure

 

Protein folding & stability

 

ECB Ch. 4, pp. 119-143

 

Supplementary reading:

G&G Ch. 5

24

Anfinsen experiment

Hemoglobin:  structure, function, allostery

(globin evolution if time)

Blackboard postings

ECB pp 60, 209-210

G&G pp 398-409

V&V pp 190-191

 

 

Lab 2:

Enzyme assay of salivary a-amylase

 

26

Hemoglobin (cont'd)

Introduction to enzymes

 

 

ECB Ch. 3, pp 91-100

Supplementary reading:

G&G Ch. 10.1-10.3

31

 

Enzyme kinetics, mechanism

 

 

 

ECB Ch.  3,  pp 101-105, 145-149

 

Experiment 3:

Structural studies of hemoglobin using

Protein Explorer

 

February

2

 

Cell signaling and communication

 

 

ECB Ch. 16, pp 533-546, 557-569

 

7

Integration of signaling and metabolism

 

Basic chemical underpinnings in energy utilization

ECB Ch. 16, pp  557-569

M&M, pp 192-196, 478-488

Suppl. reading available

ECB Ch. 3, pp 83-91, 106-116

Experiment 4:

Fibrin clot formation

See Ch. 12 (G&G) pp 396-397 for additional background

9

 

Glycolysis and

citric acid cycle

 

 

ECB Ch. 13

TAKE HOME EXAM, AVAILABLE FEB. 2 & DUE FEB. 9

 

 

Date

Lecture

Readings

Lab

14

 

Oxidative phosphorylation

 

 

ECB Ch. 14, pp. 453-476

 

Experiment 5:

Fibrin clot fractionation by SDS-PAGE

 

16

 

Photosynthesis

 

 

ECB Ch. 14, pp. 476-493

21

DNA structure and replication

 

Rev. ECB Ch. 5, pp. 169-177

ECB Ch. 6, pp. 195-208

 

Experiment 6:

Analysis of fibrin clot fractionation

 

23

DNA recombination & repair

 

Review of prokaryotic transcription

ECB Ch. 6, pp. 209-224

 

ECB Ch. 7, pp. 234-236

ECB Ch. 8, pp. 267-272

28

 

Prokaryotic gene regulation

 

ECB Ch. 8, pp. 272-275

G&G Ch. 24, pp. 762-776

Experiment 7:

Gel shift analysis of lac repressor/lac operator complex

 

March

2

IN CLASS EXAM

 

 

REQUIREMENTS

 

A. EXAMS - There will be two exams, the first will be a take-home exam and the second will be an in-class exam. Each exam will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions and is worth 35% of your quarter grade for the lecture component of the course.

Take-home exam:  The exam has been designed to be about 2 hours long (however you will be allowed 3 hours).  The exam is due on February 9 at 5 PM.  The exam will be assessed a 10% penalty for each day that it is late.

In-class exam:  Any essay questions will be a take-home component of this exam, and must be turned in with the remainder of the exam on March 3.

 

B. PROBLEM SETS - There will be four problem sets to assist you in studying for the exams.  Two will be graded, and the remaining two must be turned in for full credit. The graded problem sets will each be worth 10% and the ungraded problem sets will each be worth 5%.  The problem sets are due in class on the following dates:

            Problem set 1:       material thru hemoglobin lecture, due 1/31

            Problem set 2:       enzymes and cell signaling, due 2/9

            Problem set 3:       metabolism and photosynthesis, due 2/21

            Problem set 4:       from DNA structure to end of course, due 3/3

Problem sets will be assessed a 10% (1 pt) penalty for each day that they are late.

 

C. TEXTS - We will continue to use Essential Cell Biology (ECB; by Alberts, et al.).  However, we will be exploring concepts in biochemistry more in depth this quarter and you'll find that Garrett & GrishamÕs Principles of Biochemistry with a Human Focus will be a particularly useful reference tool.  Suggested readings from Garrett & Grisham (G&G) have been included in your syllabus above; you will find that they will complement the lectures and, on a few occasions, be more in depth, than ECB.  Exams will be based only on lectures and ECB readings.  Three copies of Garrett & GrishamÕs textbook will be on reserve in Sharpless library and some of the suggested readings will be posted on Blackboard.  Handouts or postings on Blackboard from other texts will also be available.

 

D. LECTURE NOTES - Lecture notes will be posted on the Blackboard course web site after the material has been covered.  The links will be available through the syllabus.

 

E. BIOLOGY QUESTION CENTER - The Bio Question Center will continue to be available this semester.  The schedule will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard as it becomes available. 

 

F. GUIDED LEARNING GROUP - The GLG will also be available again this semester.  Meeting times to be announced in class and posted in Blackboard.