Biochemistry

Water - Structure, unusual properties, non-covalent interactions, role in biological processes. Ionization of Water, pH scale, Weak Acids, and Weak Bases. Buffers and buffering mechanism, Henderson Hasselbalch equation. Buffering against pH Changes in Biological Systems: Phosphate buffer, Bicarbonate buffer, Protein buffer, Amino acid Buffer & Hemoglobin Buffer System.

Carbohydrates – classification, structure and functions of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Ring structure and mutarotation, stereo isomers and structural isomers. Metabolism – Glycolysis & oxidation of Pyruvate, TCA cycle, Gluconeogenesis, Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Oxidative phosphorylation, Disorder/ diseases of carbohydrate metabolism.

Simple, Compound & Derived lipids, Essential fatty acids. Fatty acid synthesis, origin of acetyl-Co A for fat synthesis, Elongation & desaturation of Fatty Acids. Activation & transport of fatty acid from cytosol to mitochondria for oxidation. Oxidation of palmitic acid by β – oxidation and ATP generation. Disorder/ diseases of lipid metabolism.

Amino acids and proteins - Classification & structure of amino acids. Essential amino acids. Peptide bond formation, Ramachandran plot, Primary, secondary, tertiary & quaternary structure of proteins. Overview of biosynthesis of amino acids from intermediates of glycolysis, Citric Acid Cycle & pentose phosphate pathway. Biodegradation of amino acids: Transdeamination. Urea Cycle. Disorder/ diseases of amino acids metabolism.

Purines and pyrimidines – Structure and properties. Metabolism of Nucleotides: Purines & Pyrimidines synthesis : de Novo & salvage pathway, Conversion of nucleoside monophosphates to nucleoside triphosphates, Formation of deoxyribonucleotides. Catabolism & salvage of Purine and Pyrimidine nucleotides. Disorder of purines and pyrimidines metabolism.