Course Co-ordinator: Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisite(s): BI 20M3 and BI 25M7

• How enzymes function using selected examples; to include the role played by metal ions and co-enzymes, enzyme kinetics, inhibition of enzyme activity


• The actions of selected enzymes; to include chymotrypsin, aspartate- and metallo- proteases, impact on medicine


• How enzymes are regulated; to include allosteric regulation, covalent modification, isozymes, precursor processing


• The background rational and experimental evidence for the traditional concept of a rate-limiting enzyme in the regulation of flux through metabolic pathways


• The concept of metabolic control analysis to explain how flux through metabolic pathways is regulated; to include the flux control coefficient of each enzyme in a pathway


• The concepts of chemiosmosis and intracellular homeostasis


• The structural and functional features of selected membrane transport proteins


• The mechanisms that regulate body mass and the resultant metabolic diseases that occur when these go awry


• The current status of understanding of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Molecular mechanisms that regulate cell shape and movement; to include cellular cytoskeleton biochemistry

• Selected aspects of cell signalling including the operation of tyrosine kinase receptors, G-proteins, lipid-derivatives and calcium ions as second messengers, cell signalling in the immune system


• The nuclear receptor superfamily and describe the overall mechanism of action of steroid receptors and related non-steroid receptors (thyroid hormone, retinoic acid, vitamin D receptors)


• The tissue specificity of hormone response as regards glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids


• The molecules and mechanisms that govern cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix interactions

Students will also develop practical skills in data interpretation, communication (written and oral) as well as interpersonal and team-working skills. These represent transferable skills that will benefit students across a range of disciplines.

The aims of the course will be achieved through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

3 one hour lectures per week and 1 all day practical (7 hours) every week.

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of an essay and practical reports.

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of an essay and practical reports.