Third Semester

Pokhara University

B.Sc. Biochemistry (Revised Syllabus)

Biochem 211 (Analytical Biochemistry)

Section I
General Principles of Biochemical Investigation: Methods of investigating metabolism, In vivo model, In vitro model,

Immunochemical Techniques: Production of antibodies, Purification and fragmentation of immunoglobulins, Immunoprecipitation, Labeling antibodies, Immunoblotting, Immunoassay, Immunohisto/chemistry, Affinity and avidity, Immunochemical use of surface plasmon resonance.

Section II
Spectroscopic Techniques:

I. Atomic and molecular electronic spectroscopy

Introduction, Gamma ray spectroscopy and Gamma ray resonance spectroscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, UV and visible light spectroscopy, Spectrofluorimetry, Circular dichroism spectroscopy, Turbidimetry and nephelometry, Luminometry, Atomic spectroscopy, Lasers.

II. Vibrational spectroscopy and electron and neutron spin orientation in magnetic field: Introduction, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, Electron spin resonance spectroscopy, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Section III
Mass Spectrometric Techniques: Introduction, The mass spectrometer, Electron impact Ionization, Chemical ionization, Field ionization, Ion desorption method, Ion evaporation method, Analysers, Detecters, Tandem mass spectrometry.

Radioisotope Techniques: Detection and measurement of radioactivity, Other practical aspects of counting radioactivity and analysis of data, Inherent advantages and restrictions of radiotracer experiments, Safety aspects, Applications of radioisotopes in the biological sciences, Radioisotope calculations. 

Section IV
Centrifugation Techniques: Introduction, Basic principles of sedimentation, Centrifuges and their use, Design and care of preparative rotors, Sample containers, Separation methods in preparative ultra centrifuges, Performing density gradients separation, Selection efficiency and applications of preparative rotors, Analysis of sub cellular fractions, Some application of the analytical ultra centrifuge, Safety aspects in the use of centrifuges.

Electrochemical Techniques: Introduction, Principles of electrochemical techniques, Redox reactions, The pH electrode, Ion –selective and Gas- sensing electrodes, The clark-oxygen electrode, Electrochemical detectors for HPLC, Biosensors.

Text Book:

Wilson and Walker Practical Biochemistry, Principles and Techniques. Fifth Edition. 2000 Cambridge University Press.ISBN 0 521 79965 1.

Chem 212 (Natural Product Chemistry)

Section I
Natural Resources of Nepal: Eco-climatic division of Nepal; The biodiversity and its Economic strength

Species in trade: Plant genera in trade; Species in Export, import; & Re-trade As for example: Swertia, Nardostachys, Parmelia, Asparagus, Picrorhiza, Taxus, Daphne, Sapindus, Euphorbia, Zanthoxylum.etc

Challenges in commercialization of plant resources: Quality management [raw material to finished products; Opportunity with plant resources]

Section II
An Introduction of Natural Product Chemistry: Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Carotenoids, Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, Xanthones, and Steroids

Section III
Chemistry of twenty major species of trade: Species of Export 10, import 5; & Re-trade Alkaloids. Anthraquinones, Catechins, Tannins, Glycosides, Terpenes, Xanthones, 

Section IV
Isolation, purification and identification of active ingredients:Pulverization, Distillation, Solvent extraction, Solvent-solvent extraction, Crystallization and re-crystallization, T.L.C., Column chromatography; G.C, HPLC.

Analysis of active ingredient of above selected Species: Application of modern analytical methods. M.P., B.P., refractive index, Optical rotation, Flash point, Co-TLC, G.C., U.V., I.R.; N.M.R..

 Biol 213 (Plant Biology)  

SECTION I
Structure: Plant cell, Cell wall, Plastids and mitochondria, membranes, nucleus and genomes, cell division.

Vegetative anatomy: Meristems and primary tissues, Roots, Herbaceous stem and primary growth, Woody stem and secondary growths, Leaves

Reproductive anatomy: Flower, Pollen and ovules, Seed, Fruits. 

SECTION II
Physiology and regulation: Arabidopsis and other model plants, methods in experimental plant sciences,

Growth and development: Features of growth and development, biochemistry of growth regulation, molecular action of hormones and intra cellular messengers,

Sensing and responding to the environment: Phytochrome, Photoperiodism, and Photomorphogenesis, tropisms, Nastic responses, Abscission, Stress avoidance and adaptation,

Flower development and reproductive physiology: Physiology of floral initiation and development, breeding systems, self-incompatibility, seed development dormancy and germination 

SECTION III
Plants, water and mineral nutrition: <>Plant and water, water retention and stomata, movement of nutrition ions across membrane, uptake of mineral nutrient by plant, function of mineral nutrition.

Plant communities and populations: Physical factors for plant distribution, plant communities, ecology of different growth forms, populations, contribution to carbon balance to atmosphere.

Reproductive ecology: Ecology of flowering and pollination, seed ecology, regeneration and establishment, polymorphisms and population genetics.

Interaction between and other organisms: Micorrhiza, Nitrogen fixation, Interaction between plants and animals, fungal pathogens and endophytes, bacteria, mycoplasma, viruses and heterokonts, parasites and saprophytes,   

SECTION IV
Human uses of plants: Plants as food, plants for construction, plants in medicine, plants for other uses, Bioremediation,

Plant diversity: Diversity and life cycles, algae, bryophytes, reproduction in bryophytes,

Spore- bearing vascular plants: Early evolution of vascular plants, Club mosses and horsetail, ferns, Evolution of the seed

Seed plants: Early seed plants, conifers, cycads, gingko and Gneitales, Evolution of flowering plants, Mechanisms of evolution. 

Test Book:

Lack and Evans, Plant Biology, First Indian Edition 2001, Viva Books Limited, ISBN 81-7649-242-6.

Biochem 214 ( Biomolecules II)

Section I
DNA-Based Information Technologies: DNA Cloning: The Basics, From Genes to Genomes, From Genomes to Proteomes, Genome Alterations and New Products of Biotechnology

Section II
Lipids: Storage lipids, Structural lipids in membranes, Lipids as signal, cofactors and pigments, Working with lipids

Section III
Biological membranes and transport: The composition and architechture of membranes, Membrane dynamics, Solute transport across membranes

Section IV
Biosignaling: Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction, Gated Ion Channels, Receptor Enzymes, G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Second Messengers, Multivalent Scaffold Proteins and Membrane Rafts, Signaling in Microorganisms and Plants, Sensory Transduction in Vision, Olfaction, and Gustation, Regulation of Transcription by Steroid Hormones, Regulation of the Cell Cycle by Protein Kinases, Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressor Genes, and Programmed Cell Death


Text book:

”Lehninger Principles of biochemistry” Nelson and Cox.4th  edition.Macmillion Worth Publisher.P

Biochem 215 (Proteins, Enzymes and Coenzymes )

Section I
Protein Function: Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins, Complementary Interactions between Proteins and Ligands: The Immune System and Immunoglobulins, Protein Interactions Modulated by Chemical Energy: Actin, Myosin, and Molecular Motors

Section II
Enzymes: An Introduction to Enzymes, How Enzymes Work, Enzyme Kinetics as An Approach to Understanding Mechanism, Examples of Enzymatic Reactions, Regulatory Enzymes

Section III
Principles of Bioenergetics: Bioenergetics and Thermodynamics, Phosphoryl Group Transfers and ATP, Biological Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Section IV
Coenzymes: Coenzyme A and phosphopantethein, Biotin, Thiamine pyrophosphate, Pyridoxal phospahate,  Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide , Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, Flavin coenzymes, Lipoic acid, Tetrahydrofolic acid, Vitamin B₁₂ coenzyme

Text book:

”Lehninger Principles of biochemistry” Nelson and Cox.4th   edition.Macmillan Worth Publishers

For Coenzymes only: Biochemistry, The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells. Academic Press