2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Biochemistry I
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Atsushi Kawakami / Eiry Kobatake / Satoshi Murakami / Hitoshi Nakatogawa / Akira Kato
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue / 3-4 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A203
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course will cover structures and functions of biomolecules such as amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, lipids, biomembranes, and so on. Topic will include some techniques for studying proteins and nucleic acids, relationship between structures and functions of proteins, regulation of gene expression, and base of genetic engineering. In addition, functions of enzymes, rate of enzymatic reactions, and mechanisms of enzyme catalysis are also explained.
Aims of this course are to learn structures and functions of biomolecules, techniques for studying biomolecules, and mechanisms of their functions for further understanding of life science and biotechnology.
This course is closely related to Biochemistry II, Molecular Biology I, and Molecular Biology II, and it is recommended to enroll all 4 courses.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain chemical and three-dimensional structures of proteins.
2. Explain the relationship between structures and functions of proteins, and techniques for studying proteins.
3. Expalin structures and fucntions of nucleic acids, gene expression, and techniques for studying nucleic acids including genetic engineering.
4. Expalin structures and functions of sugars, polysaccharides, lipids, and biomembranes.
5. Explain structures and functions of enzymes, rates of enzymatic reactions, enzymatic catalysis.
Keywords
biomolecule, amino acid, protein, nucleic acid, DNA, RNA, gene, genetic engineering, sugar, polysaccharide, lipid, biomembrane, enzyme, reaction rate, reaction mechanism
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures are given by the Zoom broadcasting. When necessary, a summary of the previous lecture is given, followed by the main points of the day's lecture. During each lecture, questions may be given to find out if students have learned the material given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Amino Acids | Structures and natures of amino acids. |
| Class 2 | Techniques for Protein Study | Techniques for isolation, purification, and analyses of proteins (chromatographies and electrophoresis). |
| Class 3 | Chemical Structure of Proteins | Methods for amino acid sequencing of protein, and chemical synthesis of polypeptides. |
| Class 4 | Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins | Higher-ordered structures of proteins. |
| Class 5 | Function of Proteins | Foldings of proteins, and the relationship between structures and fucntions of proteins. |
| Class 6 | Nucleic Acids | Chemical and three-dimensional structures of nucleic acids. |
| Class 7 | Gene Expression | Mechanisms of gene expression and DNA replication. |
| Class 8 | Techniques for Nucleic Acids Study | Techniques for studying nucleic acids, and the application to genetic engineering. |
| Class 9 | Lipids | Structures and functions of lipids and lipid membranes. |
| Class 10 | Cell Membranes | Structures and fucntions of biomembranes. |
| Class 11 | Lipoproteins | Natures of lipoproteins, and the mechanism of membrane transport. |
| Class 12 | Structure and Function of Enzymes | Specificities and regualtions of enzymes, and co-enzymes. |
| Class 13 | Enzymatic Catalysis | Mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis through lysozyme and protease. |
| Class 14 | Rates of Enzymatic Reactions | Enzymatic reactions including Michaelis- Menten equation, and inhibition of enzymatic reactions. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Biochemistry, 4th Edition (Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Wiley)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th Edition (Bruce Alberts et al., Garland Science)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their ability to describe the biochemical processes given in the course and to utilize the knowledge for problem solving, and students' course scores are based on the reports etc. given in the lectures.
Related courses
- Biochemiestry II
- Molecular Biology I
- Molecular Biology II
Prerequisites
None.