FST 123 - An Introduction to Enzymology

(3 units) SPRING QUARTER
Instructor
Ameer Taha

COURSE GOALS: FST 123 is designed to give students an understanding of the physical, chemical and kinetic properties of enzymes. Purification, characterization and quantitative evaluation of the influence of parameters such as concentrations of substrate and enzyme, pH, temperature and inhibitors on activity are stressed. Specificity and mechanism of action of enzymes are described by considering examples selected from among enzymes of importance to food science, nutrition, and to the biological sciences.

PREREQUISITES

COURSE FORMAT: The course is presented in two 1 1/2 hour lectures per week.

TOPICAL OUTLINE: Approximate number of 1 1/2 hour lectures in parenthesis:

  1. Introduction, historical highlights (1)
  2. Enzymes as proteins; their structure (1)
  3. Methods of purification (3)
  4. Substrate and enzyme concentration relationships (2)
  5. Midterm (1)
  6. pH effects (2)
  7. Temperature effects (1)
  8. Inhibitors of enzymes, their importance (1)
  9. Nature and role of cofactors (1)
  10. Classification of enzymes (1)
  11. Midterm (1)
  12. Hydrolytic enzymes - importance, properties and mechanism of action of selected enzymes (2)
  13. Oxidative enzymes - importance, properties and mechanism of action of selected enzymes (2)
  14. Completion of course: analysis of course; questions (1)
  15. Final