BCH 306 GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY I (1 Units) Practical laboratory exercises in areas of interest of academic staff to cut across a wide spectrum of general biochemistry. Laboratory practicals maybe arranged on the basis of 6 hours or 3 hours per week fora second semester. BCH 307 METABOLISM OF AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS (2 Units) Amino acids as building blocks of proteins covalent backbone of proteins Amino acid sequence of proteins. Protein isolation, fractionation, purification and characterization of proteins. Biological functions of proteins. Oxidative degradation of amino acids and metabolism of one carbon units. Biosynthesis of amino acids and some derivatives the urea cycle metabolism of inorganic nitrogen. Disorders of amino acid metabolism. (Pre-requisite: BCH 202) BCH 308 IMMUNOCHEMISTRY: (3 Units) Basic concepts of immunology, structure of antigens, antigenic determination and cellular response. Structure and activation of of the T-cell antigen receptor. Structure and classification of immunoglobulins and antibodies. Antigen and antibody interaction. Genetic basis of antibody diversity. The complement system in immune response. Hypersensitivity immune-pathology, autoimmunity, tumour and transplantation immunology. Immunochemical techniques Haemaglutination and complement fixation, precipitation reactions, immunoblotting, isolation of lymphocyte population, cytotoxic assay etc. BCH 309 XENOBIOCHEMISTRY: (2 Units) Biochemical toxicology definition and scope absorption and distribution toxicokinetics; toxicant- receptor interactions metabolism of toxicant; enzymatic basis of detoxification physiological factors affecting metabolism of xenobiotics; chemical and environmental factors affecting metabolism of xenobiotics. Detoxification mechanisms. Genetic poison resistance and tolerance to toxicants. The biochemical modes of action of pesticides and herbicides. Toxicological effects of expired drugs, side-effects of drugs as a result of use and or misuse. Allergy and its biochemical basis, toxins in processed foods and beverages. Screening for toxic pollutants in food, water etc. biochemistry of Aflatoxins and mycotoxin, Toxicological studies of food additives and food preservatives.
