CHM3101 Chemistry of Biomolecules

Chemistry of Biomolecules deals with classification, chemical structure and physiochemical data and biological roles of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic lipids and vitamins. Students will learn about the link between structure and function of these molecules at a chemical level.

Course objectives
At the end of the course, the student be able to: 

• Distinguish different classes of sugars
• Account for the linkages between the monomers in the complex sugars
• Analyze the composition of a given peptide
• Account for the structure of proteins
• Identify the components of nucleic acids. 
• Relate the structures of common vitamins to their biological roles

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should:

• Have knowledge of the structure/conformational freedom of biomolecules, e.g. proteins, DNA/RNA, carbohydrates and key metabolites/co-factors, e.g., be able to draw and recognize key structures such as the 20 amino acids, 5 nucleotides and major metabolites
• Understand and demonstrate how the structure of biomolecules determines their chemical properties and reactivity
• Draw molecules and reaction mechanisms, understand and propose site-directed mutagenesis experiments aimed at elucidating mechanism
• Understand biochemistry at the atomic level