Biochemistry

3G03: Biochemistry of Macromolecules

Contact Information

Instructor

Dr. Daniel Yang
yang@mcmaster.ca
Office: HSC 4H25a
Office Hours: Available upon request

Teaching Assistant
Sanchia Miller; milless@mcmaster.ca

Course Website
All course related materials will be posted on Avenue.


Course Information

Course Description
Chemical and conformational properties of proteins and relationships to their function including
regulation of enzyme activity. Chemical and physical structure of DNA and RNA relevant to biological
function.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
11:30 - 12:20 am
Term 1



TSH/120

Course Objectives
By the end of this course the student should be able to:
accurately describe the chemical and conformational properties of proteins
explain how enzyme works and how its structure is related to its function
describe the structures of DNA and RNA
accurately describe the various factors involved in the execution and regulation of replication,
transcription and translation


Materials and Fees


Textbook
Essential Biochemistry, 3rd edition. C.W.Pratt and K. Cornely. Wiley & Sons Inc. 2014. (required)
This book is available at the Campus Store.

Calculator
Only the McMaster standard calculator (Casio fx-991MS) will be allowed during all tests and exams. It is
available at the Campus Store


Course Requirements


Evaluation: It will be based on six tests (all multiple choices). The final grade will be calculated with the
sixth test plus the best 4 out of the first five tests. No make-up tests except the 6th test will be offered. If
you miss a test (with or without filing MSAF), the test will be dropped automatically. Students are
responsible for materials covered in the textbook and lectures. Percentage grade will be converted to a
final letter grade (see Table below).
%
Letter
%
Letter
%
Letter
%
100-90 A+
79 - 77
B+
69 67 C+
59-57
89 85 A
76 - 73
B
66 63 C
56-53
84 80 A-
72 - 70
B-
60-62
C-
52-50
All percentage grades within 0.5% of the next letter grade will be reviewed.

Letter
D+
D
D-

%
49-0

Letter
F

You have one week after a test has been completed and the results released to contact the course
instructor, to report an issue, ie. incorrect addition. Please make sure to take a good look at your test
results once they are released.

Course Schedule
Lecture Date
1
06-Sep
2
08-Sep
3
09-Sep
4
13-Sep
5
15-Sep
6
16-Sep
7
20-Sep
8
22-Sep
9
23-Sep
10
27-Sep
11
29-Sep
30-Sep

12
04-Oct
13
06-Oct
14
07-Oct

Topics-Remarks
Organization
Chemical Basis of Life
Chemical Basis of Life
Aqueous Chemistry
Aqueous Chemistry
Test 1
From Genes to Proteins
From Genes to Proteins
From Genes to Proteins
Protein Structure
Protein Structure
No Class
Protein Structure
Protein Function
Test 2

Chapter

Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 1-2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4

11,13,14-Oct

Recess

Protein Function
Protein Function
Test 3
How Enzymes Work
How Enzymes Work
How Enzymes Work

Ch 5
Ch 5
Ch 1-5
Ch 6
Ch 6
Ch 6

15
16
17
18
19
20

18-Oct
20-Oct
21-Oct
25-Oct
27-Oct
28-Oct

Ch 4
Ch 5
Ch 1-4

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

01-Nov
03-Nov
04-Nov
08-Nov
10-Nov
11-Nov
15-Nov
17-Nov
18-Nov
22-Nov
24-Nov
25-Nov
29-Nov
01-Dec
02-Dec
06-Dec

Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition

Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition
Test 4
Enzyme Kinetics and Inhibition
DNA Replication and Repair
DNA Replication and Repair
DNA Replication and Repair
Transcription and RNA
Test 5
Transcription and RNA
Transcription and RNA
Protein Synthesis
Protein Synthesis
Protein Synthesis
Test 6
No Class

Ch 7
Ch 7
Ch 1-6
Ch 7
Ch 20
Ch 20
Ch 20
Ch 21
Ch 1 - 20
Ch 21
Ch 21
Ch 22
Ch 22
Ch 22
Ch 1 - 22

Tutorials: On Monday to Thursday before each test. Locations will be posted on Avenue later.
Monday: 2:00 - 4:00 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Final Exam
This course has no final exam.

Missed Work
If you are absent from the university for a minor medical reason, lasting fewer than 5 days, you may
report your absence, one per term, without documentation, using the McMaster Student Absence Form
(http://www.mcmaster.ca/msaf/). Absences for a long duration or for other reasons must be reported
to the Associate Dean of Science office, with documentation, and relief may not necessarily be granted.
After filling out the MSAF you must immediately contact your course instructor (normally within 2
working days) by email to learn what relief may be granted for the work you have missed and relevant
details for submission or location of make-up test. Please note that the MSAF may not be used for term
work worth 25% or more, nor can it be used for the final exam.



University Policies

Academic Integrity
You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning process.
Academic credentials you ear are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity.
Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned
academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero
on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: Grade of F assigned
for academic dishonesty), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the
various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at
www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity.
The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not ones own or for which other
credit had been obtained.
2. Improper collaboration in group work.
3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Course Online Content
In this course we will be using (email, Avenue). Students should be aware that, when they access the
electronic components of this course, private information such as first and last names, user names for
the McMaster email accounts, and program affiliation may become apparent to all other students in the
same course. The available information is dependent on the technology used. Continuation in this
course will be deemed consent to this disclosure. If you have questions or concerns about such
disclosure, please discuss this with the course instructor.

Student Accessibility
Students who require academic accommodation must contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to
make arrangements with a Program Coordinator. Academic accommodations must be arranged for each
term of study. Student Accessibility Services can be contacted by phone 905-525-9140 ext. 28652 or email sas@mcmaster.ca. For further information, consult McMaster Universitys Policy for Academic
Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.

Changes to the Course Outline
The instructor and University reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The
University may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either
type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will
be given with explanation and opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of students to
check their McMaster email accounts and course websites weekly during the term and to note any
changes.