Metabolism & Metabolic Disorders

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• describe the principles of metabolism;
• demonstrate that you have acquired skills in basic biochemical laboratory methods, data interpretation and experimental report writing
• outline the metabolic pathways involved in the catabolism of glucose and fatty acids;
• show how the energy released by catabolism is recouped by substrate level and oxidative phosphorylation;
• describe the regulation of metabolism in physiological and pathological situations (e.g., exercise, starvation and diabetes);
• discuss the role of coenzymes, such as NAD+, FAD and ATP, in metabolism;
• show how amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism are inter-linked;
• describe the methods for detecting and correcting inborn errors of metabolism
• describe the various types of genetic mutation and inborn errors of metabolism
• outline the hormonal regulation of metabolism and discuss the role of protein phosphorylation in this context;
• demonstrate an ability to handle simple mathematical treatments of biological processes.
• Having done this course, together with the course on the Molecular basis of life I (BIOL1007), you should be very well-prepared for future work on more complex aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology, and confident and equipped for future work on molecular approaches to physiology, pharmacology, cell biology and biotechnology.

This module describes the major metabolic pathways that convert macromolecules consumed in the diet into energy, and how these pathways are regulated. The causes and consequences of inborn mutations in key steps in these metabolic pathways are discussed, including options for treatment with DNA technology.

Having covered the core metabolic pathways, the module ends with the mechanisms by which metabolism can be altered by altered physiological and pathological scenarios such as starvation, exercise and diabetes.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, practical classes, online practicals and individual study.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Mathews, Van Holde, Appling and Anthony-Cahill. Biochemistry.

Voet and Voet. Biochemistry .

Meisenberg and Simmons. Principles of Medical Biochemistry.

Berg, Tymocsko and Stryer . Biochemistry.

Papachristodoulou, Snape, Elliott & Elliott. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 6th edition.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.