Biochemistry - Theory

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2026-2027

Topic

The subject describes the structural characteristics of small molecules that participate in essential metabolic processes. It provides a deeper view into the fundamentals of the structure-function relationships of small and macromolecules, especially focusing on the structure, function, and regulation of molecules involved in biochemical processes. The regulatory mechanisms of metabolic pathways at the levels of the cell and the organism are covered.

The course gives an overview of the techniques used in basic biochemical and biomedical research, both in industry and in clinical research. The main focus is on solving various problems, providing a deeper view into the fundamentals of the structure-function relationships of small and macromolecules, especially focusing on the structure, function, and regulation of these molecules, scientific problems, and, through that, solution-oriented education.

Lectures

• 1. Introduction - Takátsy Anikó
• 2. Proteins and their function - Takátsy Anikó
• 3. Enzymes and their regulation - Takátsy Anikó
• 4. Working with Proteins - Takátsy Anikó
• 5. Carbohydrates and Glycobiology - Takátsy Anikó
• 6. Working with Carbohydrates - Takátsy Anikó
• 7. Nucleic acids - Takátsy Anikó
• 8. Lipids - Takátsy Anikó
• 9. Lipid protein interactions - Balogi Zsolt
• 10. Lipid based drug delivery systems - Balogi Zsolt
• 11. Biochemistry in Basic research - Marquettené Bock Ildikó
• 12. How to plan an experimental workflow - Marquettené Bock Ildikó
• 13. Biochemistry in Clinics I. - Marquettené Bock Ildikó
• 14. Biochemistry in Clinics II. - Marquettené Bock Ildikó
• 15. How to interpret results and draw conclusions - Marquettené Bock Ildikó
• 16. How to interpret results and draw conclusions - Marquette Jon Eugene
• 17. Antibody-Based tools in Biomedical Research I. - Juhász Kata
• 18. Antibody-Based tools in Biomedical Research II. - Juhász Kata
• 19. DNA-Based Information Technologies I. - Tapodi Antal
• 20. DNA-Based Information Technologies II. - Tapodi Antal
• 21. Biochemistry in Industry - Tapodi Antal
• 22. Metabolic processes - Nagyné Kiss Gyöngyi
• 23. Regulation of metabolic processes I. - Nagyné Kiss Gyöngyi
• 24. Regulation of metabolic processes II. - Nagyné Kiss Gyöngyi
• 25.

  Mitochondrial processes and their consequences

  - Takátsy Anikó
• 26.

  Mitochondrial processes and their consequences

  - Takátsy Anikó
• 27.

  Data handeling, Bioinformatics

  - Takátsy Anikó
• 28. Consultation - Takátsy Anikó

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Albert L. Lehninger - David L. Nelson - Michael M.Cox: Principles of Biochemistry, Worth Publichers, Inc.

Literature developed by the Department

Teams: OBA-108-E-2026271-MEA-A108-E

http://aok.pte.hu/hu/egyseg/oktatasianyagok/20

Notes

Teams: OBA-108-E-2026271-MEA-A108-E

http://aok.pte.hu/hu/egyseg/oktatasianyagok/20

Recommended literature

Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr., Lubert Stryer: Biochemistry

Thomas M. Devlin: Textbook of Biochemistry. With Clinical Correlations, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

The prerequisite for the exam is to pass the Principles of Biochemistry and Biochemistry Practice subjects

Mid-term exams

Arranged with teachers.

Making up for missed classes

There is no possibility to retake the classes; students can prepare themselves using the written material if they miss a class

Exam topics/questions

1) Describe the reactions of glycolysis (the key steps with structures). Discuss the factors influencing the rate of individual reactions (regulation) and the energy balance.

2) Describe with structures the reactions that are responsible for the entry of galactose and fructose into glycolysis. Discuss the organ specificity of the individual reactions (if they have any).

3) Describe the possible metabolic fates of pyruvate in humans and in plants as well. Name the possible metabolic pathways and give the first reaction of each pathway with structures.

4) Describe the possible metabolic fates of glucose-6-phosphate. Name the possible metabolic pathways and give the first reaction of each pathway with structures.

5) Describe the reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway. Discuss the increase or decrease in the activity of each enzyme depending on the needs of the cell.

6) Describe the enzymatic reactions that take part in gluconeogenesis but not in glycolysis. Discuss the coordinated regulation and cellular localization of these reactions and their effects on the energy balance of gluconeogenesis.

7) Describe the enzymatic reactions necessary for the synthesis of glycogen from glucose. Discuss the regulation of these reactions, the energy balance of the pathway, and the role of glycogenin.

8) Describe the enzymatic reactions necessary for the degradation of glycogen to glucose. Discuss the regulation of these reactions and the pathway's energy balance.

9)Describe the enzymatic reactions responsible for the degradation of fatty acids to acetyl-CoA. Discuss the intracellular localisation of these reactions, the factors influencing the rate of the pathway, and its energy balance.

10) Describe the enzymatic reactions responsible for the synthesis of saturated fatty acids from acetyl-CoA. Discuss the intracellular localisation of these reactions, the factors influencing the rate of the pathway, and its energy balance.

11) Describe the enzymatic reactions responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol from acetyl-CoA. Discuss the intracellular localisation of these reactions, the factors influencing the rate of the pathway, and its energy balance.

12) Describe the enzymatic reactions responsible for the synthesis of ketone bodies from acetyl-CoA. Discuss the intracellular localisation of these reactions, the factors influencing the rate of the pathway, and its energy balance.

13)Describe the reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (without structures), and focus on the oxidative steps (with structures). Describe the so-called anaplerotic reactions with structures. Name metabolic pathways that are connected to the TCA cycle through these reactions.

14) Describe the respiratory chain (members, functions, reaction equations). Describe the metabolic pathways capable of feeding the respiratory chain with electrons.

15) Describe the process of ATP synthesis. Describe the concept of "uncoupled mitochondrion". Name natural and artificial uncoupling agents and describe their effects.

16) Describe the transport processes through the mitochondrial membrane that are necessary for the transformation of nutrients into energy and for ATP synthesis.

17) Describe the reactions of the urea cycle (without structures) and discuss the entry of amino groups into the cycle (with structures).

18) Describe possible fates of carbon skeletons formed during the degradation of amino acids. Define the terms "ketogenic" and "glucogenic" amino acids. Define the terms: "essential", "nonessential", and "conditionally essential"amino acids as well.

19) Describe briefly the "de novo" and the "salvage" pathways of biosynthesis of nucleotides.

20) Describe the reactions of degradation of purine bases up to the excretable molecule.

21) List the water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, describe them, and their connections with biochemical processes.

+Problems to solve

Examiners

• Takátsy Anikó

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars

• Takátsy Anikó