Part 1 An overview of biochemistry and energy considerations: an overview of biochemistry; thermodynamics in biochemistry. Part 2 Structure and function of major components of the cell: the building blocks of proteins - amino acids, peptides and polypeptides; the three-dimensional structure of proteins; functional diversity of proteins; carbohydrates, glycoproteins and cell walls; lipids and membrane structures. Part 3 Catalysis: enzyme kinetics; mechanisms of enzyme catalysis; regulatory enzymes; vitamins, coenzymes and metal cofactors. Part 4 Catabolism and the generation of chemical energy: metabolic strategies; glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway; the tricarboxylic acid cycle; electron transport and the production of ATP; photosynthesis and other reactions involving light; metabolism of fatty acids. Part 5 Biosynthesis of the building blocks: biosynthesis of amino acids; metabolic fate of amino acids; nucleotides; synthesis of complex carbohydrates; metabolism of phospholipids, sphingolipids and eicosanoids; cholesterol and related derivatives; integration of metabolism and hormone action. Part 6 Storage and utilization of genetic information: structures of nucleic acids and nucleoproteins; DNA replication, repair and recombination; DNA manipulation and its applications; RNA synthesis and processing; protein synthesis and processing; regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes; regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes; mechanisms of membrane transport; immunobiology; carcinogenesis; neurotransmission; vision.
