Welcome to the BB 491/591 Page

Click here for Lecture and Reading Schedule

Click here for Study Guides and here for old exams. Click here for Exam 1 key and here for the Exam II key.

Click here for overheads / Click here for John Wilson's study guide and supplemental reading.

Click here for other references.

Topics covered:	Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides; Biological oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis; Integration of metabolism
Instructor	Dr. Christopher K. Mathews
Office address:	2011 Agricultural/Life Sciences /  Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Phone number:	737-1865
E-mail address:	mathewsc@ucs.orst.edu
Teaching assistants:	John Wilson (wilsonj2@ucs.orst.edu)
Class Hours:	Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 10:00-10:50 / Room 305 Pharmacy
Office Hours:	Monday, 3:00­4:00 (optional review sessions, Rm. 2018 ALS) office hours: Wednesday-Friday 2:00­3:00, or by appointment Teaching assistants' office hours: Monday, 11:00­1:00, and Wednesday, 11:00­12:00, Rm. 2140 ALS
Textbook:	Biochemistry, Third Edition C. K. Mathews, K. E. van Holde, and K. G. Ahern
Evaluation:	Two non-cumulative 100-point examinations and a 200-point cumulative final exam, plus a paper (described below). The final exam will cover the whole term, with emphasis on material presented after the second mid-term exam.

Old exams are available for photocopying in the BB Office at 5 cents per page. They can also be downloaded from here

Also the transparencies used in each lecture are available as a packet in the OSU Bookstore. Because most of these come from the textbook, those who read the suggested textbook pages before each lecture may not need the transparency copies, but they are available.

Paper. Each student is required to write a paper relevant to a topic presented this quarter. The paper should refer to current research literature. The paper can deal directly with one of the topics presented in class, or it can present a topic that is based more indirectly upon material presented in class. Some suggested topics are listed separately. If you wish to write on another topic, that is acceptable, but you should obtain Dr. Mathews' approval of the topic before proceeding too far into the paper. Whatever topic is chosen, each paper should focus upon the experimental aspects of biochemistry-presenting research data, or describing experiments that have been done, or outlining experimental approaches needed to extend our current understanding of your topic. Reference lists at the end of each chapter in the textbook provide access to recent reviews and to the research literature. Optimum paper length is 3 to 5 single-spaced pages plus 5 to10 references and any illustrations. Papers can be submitted at any time, but are due no later than Wednesday of Dead Week (March 13).

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR BB 491/591 PAPERS

Distributive control of metabolism (see Chapter 12).

Molecular architecture of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (or the fatty acid synthesis complex, or the a-keto acid dehydrogenase complex, or the glycine cleavage system). Recent reference for PDH complex: Z. H. Zhou et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 14802­14807 (2001).

Lipid rafts. Recent reference: L. M. Pierini and F. R. Maxfield, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 9471­9473 (2001).

Experimental evidence for rotation in the F0F1 ATP synthase complex . Recent references: R. I. Menz, J. E. Walker, and A. G. W. Leslie, Cell 106, 331­341 (2001) and H. Noji and M. Yoshida, J. Biol. Chem. 276, 1665­1668 (2001).

Mechanistic insights into the action of mitochondrial complex III (or complex IV) provided from crystal structure determinations. For references, see Chapter 15, end of chapter (p. 557).

Mitochondria and reactive oxygen species stress as factors in aging (Raha and Robinson, Trends in Biochem. Sci. 25, 502 (2000)).

Biochemistry of iron-sulfur centers (R. Rawls, Chem. & Engr. News, Nov. 20, 2000, issue, p. 43).

Genetic diseases affecting mitochondrial DNA (Schon, Trends in Biochem. Sci. 25, 555 (2000)).

Mechanism by which water is split in photosynthesis.

Biological significance of photorespiration.

Mechanism of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Structural basis of substrate channeling in polyketide synthetase complexes in antibiotic synthesis. Recent reference: S-C. Tsai et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 14808­14813.

Leptin and the control of obesity. Recent referece: S. P. Kaira, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 4279­4281.

Metabolic relationship between substrate transport into mitochondria and lifespan determination. Reference: B. Rogina et al, Science 290, 2137­2140 (2000).

Caloric intake restriction as a factor in lifespan extension. Recent reference: C­K. Lee et al, Science 285, 1390­1393.

Fatty acid synthase inhibitors as potential weight-control agents. Recent reference: T. M. Loftus et al, Science 288, 2379­2300 (2000).

Mitochondria, apoptosis, and metabolic response to anticancer drugs. Recent reference: L. Zhang et al, Science 290, 989­992.

Cancer prevention and the diet (see B. N. Ames, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:12216­12218 (1999)).

Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, homocysteine, and risk factors for cancer and heart disease. Recent reference: K. Yamada et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 14853­14858.

Biochemical actions of prostaglandins; therapeutic significance of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.

Structural basis for inhibition of plant growth by Roundup (glyphosate). Recent reference: M. F. Alibhai and W. C. Stallings, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 2944­2946.

A newly discovered role for proline hydroxylation in oxygen sensing. Recent reference: M. Ivan et al, Science 292, 464­467.

Mechanisms of one or more reactions using B12 coenzymes.

Dopamine receptors, glutamate receptors, and the biochemistry of drug addiction.

Ribonucleotide reductase (or dUTPase) as a potential drug target.

Nitric oxide and cell signalling.

Cytochrome c release from mitochondria and signalling for apoptosis (Schuler et al, JBC , 275 (2000)).

p53 action as a determinant of cellular response to anticancer drugs. Recent references: P. Komarov et al, Science 285, 1733­1737 (1999); B. A. Foster et al, Science 286, 2507­2510 (1999); see also an accompaying news article in Science, volume 286, page 2431.

Orexins: hormone-like substances that regulate sleep and are dysfunctionalin narcolepsy. Reference: J. M. Siegel, Cell 98, 409­412 (1999).

11b Hydroxysteroid levels in adipose tissue: A determinant of "apple shape," or visceral obesity. H. Masuzaki et al, Science 294, 2166­2170.

Very recent evolution of the malaria resistance associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. S. A. Tishkoff et al, Science 293, 455­462 (see also an accompanying news article: Science 293, 442­443 (2001)).