Unit

Topic

No. of Lectures/Hrs

1

The Cell: Cell as a unit of structure and function; Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Origin of eukaryotic cell (Endosymbiotic theory).

2

2

Cell wall and plasma membrane: Chemistry, structure and function of Plant cell wall. Overview of membrane function; fluid mosaic model; Chemical composition of membranes; Membrane transport – Passive, active and facilitated transport, endocytosis and exocytosis. Exracellular matrix.

5

3

Cell organelles: Nucleus, Structure-nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complex, nuclear lamina, molecular organization of chromatin; nucleolus. Cytoskeleton: Role and structure of microtubules, microfilaments and intermediary filament. Chloroplast, mitochondria and peroxisomes: Structural organization; Function; Semi-autonomous nature of mitochondria and chloroplast. Endomembrane system: Endoplasmic Reticulum – Structure, targeting and insertion of proteins in the ER, protein folding, processing; Smooth ER and lipid synthesis, export of proteins and lipids; Golgi Apparatus – organization, protein glycosylation, protein sorting and export from Golgi Apparatus; Lysosomes.

15

4

Cellular communication: General principles of cell communication, cell adhesion and roles of different adhesion molecules, gap junctions, extracellular matrix, integrins, neurotransmission and its regulation.

4

5

Cell division: Phases of eukaryotic cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis; Regulation of cell cycle- checkpoints, role of protein kinases.

4

6

Biomolecules: Types and significance of chemical bonds; Structure and properties of water; pH and buffers.

Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides - structure of aldoses and ketoses, ring structure of sugars, conformations of sugars, mutarotation, anomers, epimers and enantiomers, structure of biologically important sugar derivatives, oxidation of sugars. Formation of disaccharides, reducing and non- reducing disaccharides. Polysaccharides – homo- and heteropolysaccharides, structural and storage polysaccharides.

Lipids: Definition and major classes of storage and structural lipids; Fatty acids structure and functions; Essential fatty acids; Triacyl glycerols structure, functions and properties; Phosphoglycerides.

Amino acids: Definition, classification & structures. Physico-chemical properties of amino acids (amphoteric molecules, ionisation, zwitterions, pk values, isoelectric point, Lambert-Beer’s law, optical density, absorption spectra).

Proteins: Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure (definition and example), structure of globular protein (albumin, globulin, haemoglobin & myoglobin – Structure, function and occurrence in brief) and fibrous protein (keratin, collagen -role of Vitamin C in hydroxylation, Structure, function and occurrence in brief), Forces that stabilize structure of proteins, salting in and salting out, absorbance of proteins

Nucleic acids: Nucleotides - structure and properties. Nucleic acid structure – Watson-Crick model of DNA. Structure of major species of RNA - mRNA, tRNA and rRNA. Nucleic acid chemistry - UV absorption, effect of acid and alkali on nucleic acids. Other functions of nucleotides – source of energy, component of coenzymes.

20

7

Bioenergenetics: Laws of thermodynamics, concept of free energy, endergonic and exergonic reactions, coupled reactions, redox reactions. ATP: structure, its role as a energy currency molecule.

5

8

Enzymes: Structure of enzyme: holoenzyme, apoenzyme, cofactors, coenzymes and prosthetic group; different classes of enzymes; Features of active site, substrate specificity, mechanism of action (activation energy, lock and key hypothesis, induced - fit theroy), Michaelis – Menten equation, enzyme inhibition and factors affecting enzyme activity.

5