Course information

The course introduces students to the chemistry of biomolecules. Emphasis is put on stereoisomers and how they can have different properties despite having same chemical formula, using examples from selected pharmaceutical products. It also covers water and pH; - the role of water as a biological constituent of life. pH and its importance to biological systems. Hydrogen bonding. Amino acids, their structure and function with focus on chemical properties and how they link to form proteins. Protein structure. Enzymes and enzyme kinetics, enzyme function role of active site of enzymes, enzyme kinetics. Enzyme inhibition and inhibitors. Carbohydrates and polysaccharides; Monosaccharide structure and function. Formation of simple polysaccharides. Lipids structure and function of simple lipids, role of lipids in biology, Introduction to biomolecules. Water ionization, interaction with biomolecules, pH, Amino acids, structures: primary, secondary, and quaternary structures. Lipids: structure and function. Carbohydrates: structure and function.