Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry is a comprehensive course spanning the structure and function of biomolecules and cell metabolism. The course develops a common foundation in applying the principles of general and organic chemistry to analyze the structure of biological molecules and predict their interactions in the body. Students will analyze structure-function relationships and organization in the molecules of life: proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. The physicochemical properties of functional groups critical in drug delivery are discussed. Specific topics include: membrane structure and function, biosignaling, essential nutrients and cofactors, enzymes, and the regulation of metabolic pathways.

Molecular Visualization Labs

Biochem Links

1) Acid-base

2) Functional groups

3) Amino acids

4) Proteins

5) Enzymes

6) Carbohydrates

7) DNA

8) Lipids

9) Membranes

10) Biosignaling

11) Metabolic regulation

12) Carbohydrate metabolism

13) TCA cycle

14) Oxidative phosphorylation

15) Lipid metabolism

16) Nitrogen metabolism

Resources

PubChem Lookup a molecule

PDB Visualize protein and DNA structure

Strategies for Single Best Answer Multiple Choice Questions

General tips:

Language Items

interaction, affinity, repulsion

mediate: to influence (but not inhibit) or cause a process or event

promote/inhibit

facilitate: to make it possible or easier for something to happen

favorable: likely to happen

moiety: one of the portions into which something is divided that has certain properties (functional group)

Abbreviations frequently used:

E.g.    for example

I.e.     that is

≠        not equal to

≈, ~    approximately equal to

=        defined as (equivalence)

Greek alphabet:

α        alpha

β        beta

γ        gamma

δ, Δ       lower, upper case delta

ε        epsilon

θ        theta

λ        lambda

μ        mu

ν        nu

π        pi

σ        sigma

ϕ, Φ       lower, upper case phi

ψ, Ψ       lower, upper case psi

ω        omega

Å        angstrom (10−10 m)

∞             infinity

Nutrition

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Food Documentaries


Nutrition and Popular Eating Plans

Evidence on cardiovascular outcomes, obesity, and diabetes reveals that a healthy diet is just what you might expect: rich in fresh vegetables, fruit, legumes and nuts/seeds… in other words a plant-based diet. Such foods are nutrient dense, fueling the body and the immune system with micronutrients. On the other hand, the Western diet is high in processed foods and emphasizes macronutrients: starch, refined grain, added sugar, and animal protein. Seventy percent of disease in the Western world is due to lifestyle and nutrition. The following description of popular diets will aid you in advising patients that may be partial to a particular meal plan.

Vegan

Veganism abstains from all animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, butter). According to the 20-year long China Study (2005), this diet lowers your risk of the chronic Western illnesses: heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Variants:   80/20 Vegan (e.g. TB12 by Tom Brady); Vegan Before 6pm; Weekday Vegan

References:   www.whatthehealthfilm.com/facts

Films:  Vegucated (2010); Forks Over Knives (2011); PlantPure Nation (2015); What the Health (2017)

Pescetarian (“Fegan”)

This diet includes fish and seafood but not other animal products. Like some “vegetarians”, coastal communities will often include eggs and dairy products.

Paleo

Abstains from starch (potato, cereal, corn) and all grains (pasta, rice, bread, flour, barley). Eliminates processed foods, added sugar, and dairy products. Often will include eggs and grass-fed butter (not margarine). May be allowed bacon with added sugar once per week. Strict paleo dieters limit pseudograins (quinoa, buckwheat, chia) as well as legumes (beans, chickpea, peanut) which contain the anti-nutrient phytic acid. Tree nuts are not a legume and are allowed, but only in moderation as they contain omega-6 fatty acids rather than omega-3.

Link: https://thepaleodiet.com

Films:    We Love Paleo (2016); What’s with Wheat? (2016)

Specific-carb diet (SCD), FODMAP, or  SIBO Specific Diet

In addition to abstaining from grains, SCD avoids fermentable carbohydrates that lead to microbial overgrowth in the GI tract. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols. The diet provides symptom relief for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis. In the first phase, a strict 3-month period is needed to starve off GI bacteria or Candida. Thereafter, legumes and lactose-free cheese can be introduced one at a time to see if tolerated. To aid digestion, beans should be soaked overnight and drained prior to cooking.

SCD Dictionary:   www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/listing/A

Other Diets

Gluten-free: Celiac disease is a rare genetic autoimmune disorder affecting <1% of the population. Individuals will react to gluten (wheat, barley, rye). Others may benefit from this diet because they actually have IBS and react to fructan sugars (FODMAPs) found in wheat breads and pasta.

 

Ketogenic diet (also Atkins or South Beach diets):  Variations of the low-carb diet have been attempted by some diabetics and those seeking to lose weight. Excludes high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables, bread, pasta, grains and sugar, and increases the consumption of fat in the form of nuts and cream/oil/butter. The resulting lack of blood glucose causes the body to produce ketone bodies. Known as ketosis, this fat-burning state causes the breath and urine to smell fruity. If ketone levels become extreme under starvation conditions, ketoacidosis of the blood can be fatal.

 

DASH (Dietary approaches to stop hypertension):  This well-balanced diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods; includes meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and beans; and is limited in sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, red meat, and added fats.

 

Mediterranean: This cultural diet decreases mortality and the risk of cancer/heart disease. Emphasizes whole grains, olive oil, veggies, legumes/nuts, and fish/poultry in that order. Moderate consumption of yogurt, cheese, and wine is permitted. Red meat, eggs, refined grains/starch, and sweets are used sparingly.

Advanced topics

Fats/Oils:   An omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 4:1 or lower, as found in many fish, is ideal because omega-3s are a powerful antioxidant. Extra virgin olive is often thought to be healthy, though its ratio is 13:1. Grass-fed meat can have twice as much omega-3s as regular beef.

FODMAPs:  Fruits, vegetables and other legal foods can be ranked by their degree of fermentation (used to suggest allowed serving size). IBS is hard to test for: one sign is if you get cramps after eating a bag of raw carrots.