School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences
Unit Outline
Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
BIOC2202
Semester: 2
Campus: Crawley
Unit Coordinator: Dr Marie Bogoyevitch
This outline is the currently available version for this unit. Detailed Information on unit
content and assessment may undergo modification before the time of delivery of the
unit. For the most up to date information students must consult material supplied to
enrolled students by the unit co-ordinator.
All material reproduced herein has been copied in accordance with and pursuant to a statutory licence administered
by Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), granted to the University of Western Australia pursuant to Part VB of the
Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Copying of this material by students, except for fair dealing purposes under the Copyright Act, is prohibited. For the
purposes of this fair dealing exception, students should be aware that the rule allowing copying, for fair dealing
purposes, of 10% of the work, or one chapter/article, applies to the original work from which the excerpt in this course
material was taken, and not to the course material itself
© The University of Western Australia 2001
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Introduction
This unit considers biochemistry within a cellular context, emphasizing structural and
functional details of proteins and enzymes whilst describing critical cellular activities such as
metabolism, protein sorting, signal transduction and cell division. The unit therefore extends
information on protein structure and function covered in the first semester unit BIOC2201. It
should be of interest to students in many areas of study who wish to have a more in depth
appreciation of how molecular processes relate to cellular functions.
The content of the unit is divided into several major themes: (1) metabolism. This is
concerned with the molecular mechanisms involved in energy production and utilisation in the
cell; (2) metabolic integration and control, where greater emphasis is placed on how
metabolic pathways act together; (3) protein sorting and compartmentation. This describes
how proteins are directed to specific intracellular locations, and emphasises similarities and
specific differences in directing proteins to different organelles in the complex eukaryotic cell;
(4) signal transduction, where the information pathways used by chemical messengers such
as hormones are considered; (5) cell cycle control. This section introduces specific proteins
involved in control of the cell cycle and emphasises how their discovery has been made
through molecular studies of diseases such as cancer.
Broad Learning Outcomes
Outcomes
Assessment Activity
Students will be able to recall and integrate key
knowledge and concepts about:

Metabolism

Metabolic Integration and Control

Protein Sorting and Compartmentation

Signal transduction

Cell Cycle Control Mechanisms
Theory exam
Lab worksheets
Students will acquire skills in:

Use of instrumentation for biochemical
experimentation and measurement
Lab worksheets

Data recording and analysis
Lab exam

Experimental design

Calculations associated with laboratory work
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Advisable Prior Study
The first semester second level unit BIOC2201 is an essential prerequisite for this unit, and
therefore students must also have completed units in chemistry, molecular biology, and
chemistry in their first year of study. Additional second level units that may aid in preparation
for this unit include units offered by Physiology, Microbiology and Anatomy and Human
Biology. Information on the recommended text is provided on the following pages.
Technical Requirements
Laboratory Book
You will be provided with a Laboratory Manual that will give you the background information
on each laboratory session as well as questions to help you prepare for each laboratory
session. This Manual will also provide you with specific question sheets that you must
complete both prior to and at the completion of each lab. No additional notebook is required.
Calculator
You should have a pocket calculator available for use in the laboratory.
Laboratory Coat
You must wear a laboratory coat at all times in the laboratory. In addition it is essential that
closed shoes be worn in the Biochemistry laboratories.
Software Requirements
There is no requirement for specialist computing programs in this unit. If you access the
WebCT site, then Adobe Acrobat will be required to read some material.
Contact Details
Unit web site (may include Web CT URL): http://Webct.uwa.edu.au/
Name of Unit coordinator: Dr Marie Bogoyevitch
Name of Laboratory coordinator: Dr Peter Arthur
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone: 6488 1348 (MA Bogoyevitch) or 6488 1750 (P Arthur)
Fax: 6488 1148
Consultation hours: By appointment
Unit Structure Summary
Lectures
Two 1 hour lectures per week.
Practical and/or laboratory sessions
One 3 hour laboratory class every week throughout the semester.
Attendance at all laboratory sessions is compulsory.
If a laboratory class cannot be attended due to an illness, then a medical certificate must be
provided.
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Topics
For details of times and venues of all teaching sessions please consult the most recent
version of the university timetable at http://www.timetable.uwa.edu.au/
In this unit there are 5 major themes: 1. Metabolism, 2. Metabolic integration, 3. Protein
Sorting, 4. Signal Transduction and 5. Cell Cycle.
Themes 1 and 2 are presented by Dr Peter Arthur and themes 3, 4 and 5 are presented by Dr
Marie Bogoyevitch.
NOTE: each lecturer is responsible for all lecture and tutorial material within a theme. Please
contact them directly if you have specific questions relating to their material.
A listing of the lecture topics is provided below.
LECTURE TOPICS
THEME 1: METABOLISM
1
INTRODUCTION & The concept of a metabolic pathway
2
Characteristics of metabolic pathways
3
ATP and NADH - the energy carriers
4
Glucose catabolism
5
Fatty acid synthesis and breakdown
6
Aerobic energy generation - TCA cycle and the mitochondria
7
Aerobic energy generation - Mitochondria as energy producers
THEME 2: METABOLIC INTEGRATION AND CONTROL
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Bioenergetics - integrating energy sources
9
Integration - maintaining blood glucose
10
Integration - allosteric and phosphorylation
11
Integration - how key enzymes are regulated
12
Photosynthesis
13
REVISION
THEME 3: PROTEIN SORTING AND COMPARTMENTATION
14 Post-translational Protein Targeting
15
Protein Secretory Pathways - Focus on the ER
16
Protein Secretory Pathways - Focus on the Golgi
THEME 4: GETTING MESSAGES TO CELLS
17
Intercellular Messages and Their Receptors
18
The Simplest Communication Pathways
19
Adding Complexity - the use of intracellular enzymes
20
GTP Binding Proteins and Second Messengers
21
Receptors with Intrinsic Enzyme Activity
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LECTURE TOPICS continued
THEME 4: REGULATION OF THE CELL CYCLE
22 Overview of the Cell Cycle and Its Control
23
Molecular Control of the Cell Cycle - Mitotic Events and Control
24
Checkpoints and Evasion in Cancer
25
REVISION
References, Resources and Reading Materials
Recommended Text
Molecular Biology of the Cell – 4th edition (Authors: Lodish, Berk, Zipursky,
Matsuidaira, Baltimore) or 5th edition (Authors: Lodish, Berk, Matsuidaira, Kaiser,
Krieger, Scott, Zipursky, Darnell).
This textbook was also the text recommended in first semester for BIOC2201.
It is important to note that no textbook can cover every topic well. Therefore the individual
lecturers will refer to other textbooks as required throughout this unit.
Other textbooks you might find useful include:
Biochemistry – second edition – Authors Garrett and Grisham
(this is currently the textbook recommended for third year biochemistry; it has more detail on
proteins, enzymes and metabolism).
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – second edition – Authors Elliott and Elliott
(this is a more simple textbook, but many general concepts are well described).
Lecture notes
Each lecturer will make available the notes for their lectures in the lectures. Any
spare copies not collected at lectures will be placed in a folder in the second year lab.
Please also check the WebCT site for this unit – it will have electronic copies of notes
and voice recordings of the lectures.
Laboratory Manual
The Laboratory Manual, supplied to all students who enrol in the unit, contains
detailed laboratory notes and essential information on laboratory safety.
Unit web site
All enrolled students have access to the unit WebCT site (http://webct.uwa.edu.au).
This site will be used for notices and the posting of supplementary course materials
such as additional study questions and practice examination papers. It is strongly
recommended that you log onto this site on a daily basis.
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Assessment Details
Assessed Work
Laboratory questions and
attendance
Theory Examination (2 hours)
- Essay/Short Answer
Questions
- Multichoice questions
Laboratory Examination (2 hours)
- Essay/Short Answer
Questions
- Multichoice questions
% Mark
10%
Timing
Throughout semester
End of semester exam period
40%
30%
End of semester exam period
10%
10%
Plagiarism
The University of Western Australia takes very seriously the matter of academic misconduct
by students and has policies in place that define misconduct (including plagiarism) and the
penalties that apply. The consequences for misconduct can be severe, including exclusion
from the university.
All students are expected to make themselves aware of the definitions and policies relating to
academic misconduct, found at the websites below, and with any additional requirements or
stipulations that may be provided by individual unit co-ordinators.
http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/20839/StuMiscondInfo.rtf
http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/tl/academic_conduct
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