Biochemistry
List of Courses

GMS BI 751 Biochemistry
Prereq: consent of instructor. Basic principles and concepts of graduate level biochemistry in a one-semester course. Instruction includes protein structure and function; mechanisms of enzyme action; carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; bioenergetics; metabolism of amino acids and nucleotides; DNA and RNA synthesis, structure and function; and regulation of gene expression. Offner. 6 cr, 1st sem.

GMS BI 755/756 Biochemistry A, B
Prereq: Organic Chemistry or equivalent, and consent of instructor. This two-semester course provides the biochemical foundation for advanced studies in basic and clinical sciences. Topics presented in the first semester include the structure and function of macromolecules, the mechanisms of enzyme action, the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, as well as bioenergetics. The second semester continues with the metabolism of lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, the control of metabolic processes, the function of hormones, biochemical genetics, and transcriptional and translational events. Kandror. 4 cr, 1st and 2nd sem.

GMS BI 776 Gene Targeting in Transgenic Mice
Prereq: BI 755, 756; MS 753; and consent of instructor. Introduction to the basic theory and practice of an approach applicable to many cell biology problems. Covers the following topics: early mouse development; gene targeting into mouse embryos; homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells; review of practical aspects of the transgenic technology; review of selected studies employing transgenic mice and chimeric (gene knockout) mice. Offered alternate years. Ravid. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 778 Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease
This course is designed to give the student an overview and understanding of selected disorders of the cardiovascular system and of important questions currently being studied. Emphasis will be placed on molecular and cellular mechanisms of normal vascular function and of vascular dysfunction leading to disease. Clinical relevance and treatment modalities will also be discussed. Appropriate experimental techniques will be considered in the context of important concepts. Offered alternate years. TBA. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 780 Control of Metabolic Processes
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Detailed consideration of metabolic pathways and major sites of metabolic regulation. Catalytic properties, cofactors, and methods of regulation functioning in the pathways of intermediary metabolism are studied. Topics include: carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, alternate pathways, photosynthesis, and amino acid metabolism. Offered alternate years. Tornheim. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 781 Basic Pulmonary Science

GMS BI 782 Molecular Biology
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Advanced molecular biology using the current literature as a source of information. Emphasis is placed on relevant research techniques. Topics include DNA/RNA/protein synthesis and function analysis of genetic disorders, gene therapy, molecular biology of important cellular processes, and regulation of gene expression. Sonenshein. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 783 Structure and Function of Proteins
Prereq (or may be taken simultaneously): GMS BI 755 and 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. This course correlates the structure of proteins with their function. It considers the universality of certain regions, such as zinc fingers, calcium binding regions, DNA liganding sequences, in terms of their three dimensional structure, and considers the effect of site specific mutations in these regions on the function of the protein containing them. Apoproteins, apolipoproteins, glycoproteins, structural proteins, and adhesion molecules are used as examples of the correlation between structure and function of these entities. Offered alternate years. Simons. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 786 Biochemical Mechanisms of Aging
Prereq: consent of instructor. Current issues and key research advances in the understanding of the biochemical processes involved in aging of mammals are discussed. Theories on aging are analyzed, and age-related changes in gene structure and expression are presented. Alterations in the function of the neuroendocrine and immune systems with aging are also discussed. Offered alternate years. Polgar. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 787 Molecular Mechanisms of Growth and Development
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Examines the most recent advances in the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. Control of the cell cycle and regulation of the expression of differentiated function are discussed. The role of extracellular growth factors and nuclear transcriptional regulatory proteins are explored. Students present and actively discuss recent primary research articles. Offered alternate years. Symes. 2 cr, 1st sem.

GMS BI 788 Enzyme Catalysis
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Advanced aspects of chemical, thermodynamic and kinetic principles of catalytic mechanisms. Topics include genetic, kinetic, and chemical methods of analysis of enzyme mechanisms; transition state and mechanism-based inhibitors in the control of metabolic reactions; allosteric regulation; enzymes as chemotherapeutic targets in human disease. Offered alternate years. Kagan. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 789 Physical Biochemistry
Prereq: consent of instructor. The structure of water, its role in protein or nucleic acid folding, as well as the part played by water or by its exclusion in biochemical reactions, forms the basis of the course. The role of uncharged vs. charged solutes, and the effect of enclosure of aqueous solutions of macromolecules in semipermeable membranes (i.e., modeling of a cell, as well as of the protein solutions within it) are also considered. Offered alternate years. Simons. 2 cr, 1st sem.

GMS BI 790 Receptors and Signal Transduction
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor. The goal of this course is to provide an in-depth description of the molecular mechanisms of ligand-receptor binding and signal transduction. Emphasis is placed on the mechanism of action of hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. Individual components of receptor-induced signaling pathways are investigated in detail and integrated into models of cellular control. Relies heavily on current literature and student directed discussion. Offered alternate years. Kandror. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 793 Mass Spectrometry and Functional Genomics
Preq: BMS BI751 or BI755, consent of instructor. The application of mass spectrometry to protein, glycoconjugate and carbohydrate structures has propelled developments in proteomics and functional genomics. This course describes how to use mass spectrometry to answer structural and functional questions in biomedical research. Costello. 2 cr, 2nd sem.

GMS BI 851, 852 Special Topics in Biochemistry
Prereq: GMS BI 755, 756 or equivalent and consent of instructor.

GMS BI 854 Biochemistry Seminar
Required for all first- and second-year post-bachelor's PhD biochemistry students and for all first-year MA, post-master's PhD, and MD/PhD biochemistry students. Students present seminars on current topics in biochemistry. The emphasis of this course is on effective use of the biochemical literature and methods of improving oral presentations. Abraham, Panchenko. 2 cr

GMS BI 951 Research in Biochemistry Variable cr