KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY

Jnanasahyadri, Shankaraghatta – 577 451

SEP SYLLABUS FOR B.Sc., COURSE IN BIOCHEMISTRY

(2024)

SEMESTER I
FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Unit 1: 12h
General Introduction: Origin of Biochemistry as a discipline. Definition, scope and
significance of Biochemistry. Chemical composition of living organisms. Water as a
solvent of life.

Acids, Bases and Buffer: Dissociation of water, ionic product of water, concept of pH and
pOH, Dissociation of weak acids and weak bases, Bronsted Lowry theory, Lewis concept of
acids and bases. Titration curves of strong and weak acids and bases. Meaning of Ka
and pKa. Buffers, preparation of buffers, buffer action and buffer capacity, Buffers in
biological system and its importance. Henderson-Hasselbalch equation and derivation.
pH meter, Electrodes (Hydrogen Electrode & Calomel electrode), glass electrode,
standard hydrogen electrode.
Stoichiometry: Molarity, molality, normality, ppm and ppb. Primary and secondary
standards, Requirement of primary standards. Types of titrations, acid-base titration, Redox
iodometry, precipitation. Complexometric titrations with examples. Choice of indicators.

Unit 2: 12h
Chemical Bonding: Types of bonds & bond characteristics - Ionic, covalent, co-ordinate
bonds. Atomic orbitals and molecular orbitals – Molecular Orbital Theory, bonding and anti-
bonding of molecular orbitals, sp, sp2, sp3 and sp3d2 hybridizations with suitable examples.
Sigma and pi bonds with examples. Vander Waal’s forces, ion-dipole, dipole – dipole
interactions, London forces, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding. Effect of chemical
forces on physical properties (Solubility, BP and MP).

Colligative properties: Osmotic pressure: Definition and its measurements by the Berkley’s
Hartley method, Hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions. Effect of osmotic pressure on
living cells. Laws of osmotic pressure (only statement), Plasmolysis, Turgid state and reverse
osmosis. Viscosity - Definition, Experimental method of measuring viscosity of liquids
and solutions by Ostwald’s viscometer. Surface tension – Definition and its
measurement. Distribution law - Distribution law, partition coefficient. Applications of
distribution law. Radioactivity, types of radioactivity, importance in biological system.

Co-ordination compounds: Co-ordinate bond, double and complex salts – differences

with examples. Postulates of Werner’s theory. Types of ligands – uni, bi and
polydentate with examples. Co-ordination number. Porphyrin nucleus and classification.
Important metalloporphyrins occurring in nature, structure and their biological
importance (Hb, cytochrome, chlorophyll, Vitamin B12). Bilepigments–Types, structure
and biological importance.

Unit 3: 12h
Reaction mechanisms: Concept of inductive effect, resonance and hyper conjugation
with examples. Classification of organic reactions (substitution, addition, elimination
and rearrangement), with two examples for each. Concepts of the following –
carbanions, carbocations, free radicals, carbenes, nucleophiles and electrophiles.

Stereochemistry: Stereoisomerism, types, Fischer-projection formulae, chiral carbon

atom, asymmetry and dissymmetry, chirality, conditions for optical isomerism ex:
glyceraldehyde, lactic acid, tartaric acid, enantiomers, diastereomers. D and L notation,
R and S system, racemisation and resolution (Biochemical, chemical and physical
methods). Geometrical isomerism. E and Z notations.

Carbonyl compounds: General properties. Aldehydes and ketones. Keto-enol tautomerism,

Mechanism: Claisen and aldol condensations. Quinones: Biologically important quinones.

Unit 4: 12h
Heterocyclic compounds: Definition, classification with examples, structure and
biological importance of furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, pyran, thiazole, pyrimidine,
purine, indole, imidazole, quinoline and isoquinoline. Basicity of pyrrole and pyridine.

Terpenes: Definition, isoprene rule, classification, isolation, structure and biological

importance of menthol, camphor, phytol.

Steroids: Basic ring structure in steroids. Structure and biological importance of

cholesterol, phytosterols and ergosterol. Bile acids [Mono, Di & Tri cholic acids].
Alkaloids: Definition, classification based on their structure and biological functions,
isolation, structure and biological action of morphine, nicotine & atropine.

Drugs: Classification of drugs; synthesis and uses of sulphanilamide and paracetamol.

Antibiotics: Definition; types; sources.

REFERENCES:

1. Puri, Sharma, Arun Bhal & B S Bhal, Pathania Text Book of Physical Chemistry
2. Puri, Sharma, Arun Bhal & B S Bhal, Pathania Text Book of Inorganic Chemistry
3. A Guide to Organic Reaction Mechanism - P. Sykes
4. General &Inorganic Chemistry - R.P.Sarkar
5. Inorganic Chemistry - R.L.Dutta
6. New Concise Inorganic Chemistry - J.D.Lee
7. F.A.Cotton & G.Wilkinson. Basic Inorganic Chemistry, John Wiley (1998)
8. Douglas, Mcdaniel and Alexander: Concepts and Models In Inorganic Chemistry,
John Wiley, 3rd Edition (1994).
9. James E.Huheey, Ellen Keiter and Richard Keiter: Inorganic Chemistry: Principles
of Structure and Reactivity, Pearson Public, 4 th Edition (2013).
10. Pattabhi.V. and Gautham.N. (2002) Biophysics. Narosa Publishing House, India.
11. Stereochemistry of Carbon Compounds- D.Nasipuri
 Practical-1 Content:
1. Calibration of volumetric glassware (Burette, pipette and volumetric flask).
2. Preparation of normal, molar and percentage solution and dilutions.
3. Preparation of standard sodium carbonate solution, standardization of HCl (Methyl
orange) and estimation of NaOH in the given solution. (Methyl orange or
phenolphthalein).
4. Preparation of standard oxalic acid. Standardization of NaOH and estimation of H2SO4
in the given solution (phenolphthalein).
5. Preparation of standard K2Cr2O7. Standardization of Na2S2O3 and estimation of CuSO4
in the given solution.
6. Preparation of ZnSO4. Standardization of EDTA and estimation of total hardness of
water using eriochrome black-T indicator.
7. Preparation of standard potassium bipthalate. Standardization of NaOH and estimation
of HCl in the given solution. (Phenolphthalein).
8. Calibration of pH meter and determination of pH of aerial drinks and Preparation of
buffers - acetate and phosphate buffers.
9. Determination of density and viscosity of the given liquid using specific gravity bottle
and Ostwald’s viscometer.
10. Determination of density and surface tension of the given liquid using specific gravity
bottle and stalagmometer.
11. Preparation of standard potassium bipthalate. Standardization of NaOH and
Determination of alkalinity of antacids.

REFERENCES:

1. Svehla, G. Vogel’s Qualitative Inorganic Analysis, Pearson Education, 2012.

2. Mendham, J. Vogel’s Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Pearson, 2009.
3. Dr. O. P. Pandey, D. N. Bajpai, dr. S. Giri, Practical Chemistry S. Chand and Co.
Ltd.,
4. Principles of Practical Chemistry- M. Viswanathan
5. Instrumental Methods of chemical Analysis B.K Sharma.
6. Experiments in Physical Chemistry R.C. Das and B. Behra, Tata Mc Graw Hill
7. Advanced Practical Physical Chemistry J.B.Yadav, Goel Publishing House
8. Advanced Experimental Chemistry. Vol-I J.N.Gurtu and R Kapoor, S. Chand and
Co.
9. Practical Chemistry K.K. Sharma, D. S. Sharma (Vikas Publication).
10. General Chemistry experiment – Anil J Elias (University press).
 SEMESTER II:

BIOMOLECULES AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY

Unit 1: 12h
Carbohydrates: Definition and classification of carbohydrates (based on hydrolysis, function
and reducing property),
Monosaccharides - Definition, Stereochemistry of monosaccharides - D and L designations,
configurational relationships of aldoses and ketose. Enantiomers, Epimers and diasteromers.
Glucose - properties, open chain, configuration and ring structure, chair and boat
configurations. Anomers, mutarotation. Fructose - properties, configuration and ring
structure. Linear and cyclic structure (galactose, mannose, ribose and arabinose). Reactions
and characteristics of aldehyde and keto group, action of acids and alkalies on sugars,
reactions of sugars due to hydroxyl group.
Derived monosaccharides - Definition, structure and biological importance of amino sugars,
sugar acids and deoxy sugars.
Disaccharides - Definition, establishment glycosidic linkage, structure, occurrence, chemistry
and functions of sucrose, lactose, trehalose, maltose, isomaltose and cellobiose.
Polysaccharides - Definition, classification structure and biological importance.
Homopolysacchrides - Occurrence, structure, chemistry and functions of cellulose, starch,
glycogen, chitin. dextrin and inulin. Heteropolysacchrides - Occurrence, types, composition
and functions of glycosaminoglycans like chondratin sulphate, hyluronic acid, keratin
sulphate, dermatan sulphate and heparin. Bacterial cell wall components – peptidoglycan.
Biological importance of carbohydrates.

Amino acids and Proteins:

Amino acids: Definition, structure and classification of amino acids based on polarity and
charge, D & L amino acids, Standard and non standard aminoacids. General reactions of
amino acids- reaction with nitrous acid, LiAlH4, phenyl isothiocynate, dancyl chloride,
ninhydrin, and HCHO and their significance. Essential and non essential amino acids. Acid-
base properties, zwitter ionic properties.

Peptides - Definition, formation of peptide bond, characteristic properties of peptide bond,

nomenclature, structure and biological importance of glutathione, oxytocin and vasopressin.

Proteins: Definition, classification based on shape and functions of proteins. Structural

organization of primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins.
Denaturation, renaturation (Anfinsen experiment should be discussed), precipitation of
proteins.
Unit 2: 12h
Lipids: Biological importance. Classification of lipids with examples. Fatty acids -
nomenclature, classification, physical and chemical properties of fatty acids. Essential and
non essential fatty acids with examples, eicosanoids, prostaglandin (structure of PGE1 and
PGE2).
Acyl glycerols - hydrolysis, rancidity and significance of saponification number, acid number
and iodine number and their application.
Compound lipids - Structure and functions of phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids,
cerebrosides and gangliosides. Lipoproteins and waxes.

Nucleic Acids: Components of nucleic acids. Structure of purine and pyrimidine bases,
tautomeric forms of bases, structure of nucleosides and nucleotides and polynucleotides.
Isolation of nucleic acids. DNA: structure and biological role of Double helix Watson and
Crick model, A, B, and Z forms of DNA, physical properties of DNA. RNA - Types and
biological role of RNA - (tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, ssRNA), unusual bases in tRNA,
denaturation and renaturation of nucleic acids.

Unit 3: 12h
Cellular Biochemistry:

Ultrastructure of cell: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. Sub cellular organelles.

Cytoskeletons - microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments - distribution, types,
structure and chemical composition. Difference b/w animal and plant cellular systems.

Biological membrane: Structure, functions and chemcical compositon of biological

membranes. Structure of fluid mosaic model. Simple diffusion - definition with examples.
Facilitated transport - definition, types with examples. Symport, uniport and antiport. Active
transport - primary active transport, secondary active transport, ion channels, sodium
potassium ATPase. Endocytosis, phagocytosis.

Unit 4: 12h
Cellular interactions: cell-cell interaction and cell - matrix interaction, extracellular matrix,
proteoglycan and collagen, cell- cell adhesion, catherins, desmosomes, gap junction and tight
junction.

Cell cycle: Cell cycle - different phases including cell division - Mitosis and Meiosis (
fundamental study), Apoptosis - definition, difference b/w apoptosis and necrosis, outline
study of apoptotic pathway, role of caspases, regulation of cell cycle.
References:

1. Principles of Biochemistry, Donald Voet, Judith G Voet,

Charlotte W. Pratt, 4th Edition, John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2012
2. Lehninger- Principles of Biochemistry; DL Nelson and MM
Cox [Eds), 6th Edn. Macmillan Publications 2012
3. Biochemistry- the chemical reactions of living cells, David E
Metzler, 2nd Edition, Elsevier Academic Press,
4. Fundamentals of Biochemistry, Jain, J.L, S.Chand publication 6th Edition, 2005.
5. Biochemistry, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert
Stryer, Freeman and company, 7th Edition, 2010.
6. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, Victor W Rodwell, et.al, 31st
edition, McGraw Hill Education Lange ® 2018.
7. Biochemistry, Lubert Stryer 5th edition 2015
8. Cell Biology by Veer Bala Rastogi, C B Powar, P S Verma and V K Agarwal
9. Karp’s cell biology by Janet Iwasa and W Marshall
Practical-2 content:
1. Qualitative analysis:
1. Carbohydrates- general reactions of carbohydrates and schematic analysis
Glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, sucrose, and starch.
2.Amino acids and Proteins- general reactions and schematic analysis
Arginine, tyrosine, tryptophan and proline, cysteine, Albumin and Casein
3.Lipids- animal fats and Vegetable oils

2. Isolation methods (any four)

1. starch from potato
2. Casein from milk
3. DNA from onion leaves, coconut endosperm
4. Caffeine or tannin from Tea leaves
5. Citric acid from lemon juice

3. Identification of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using microscopic observation

4. Study of stages in mitosis using onion root tip
5. Comments on:
1.Phases of mitotic and meiotic stages of cell division
2.Apoptosis and Necrosis
3.Identification of Transport mechanism.

References:

1. Practical Biochemistry, Geetha Damodaran, Jaypee, 2011

2. Biochemical methods, S. Sadasivam , A. Manickam, 3 rd
Edition, New Age International Pvt Ltd, 2007
3. An Introduction to Practical Biochemistry, David Plummer , 3rd edition 2017
4. Laboratory manual in Biochemistry , J. Jayaraman 2011
Semester Paper Titles Contact Credits
hours/week
1 Fundamentals of Biochemistry 3 3
Practical-1 4 2
2 Biomolecules and Cellular Biochemistry 3 3
Practical-2 4 2
3 Bioanalytical Techniques 3 3
Practical-3 4 2
4 Human Physiology and Nutrition 3 3
Practical-4 4 2
5 Enzymology and Metabolism 3 3
Practical-5 4 2
6 Molecular Biology and Immunology 3 3
Practical-6 4 2

Semester Paper Titles Contact Credits

hours/week
1 Fundamentals of Biochemistry 4 3
Practical-1 4 2
2 Biomolecules and Cellular Biochemistry 4 3
Practical-2 4 2
3 Bioanalytical Techniques 4 3
Practical-3 4 2
4 Human Physiology and Nutrition 4 3
Practical-4 4 2
5 Enzymology and Metabolism 4 3
Practical-5 4 2
6 Molecular Biology and Immunology 4 3
Practical-6 4 2