Natural Science 0344 - Enzymes

This course will explore the fundamentals of catalysis and how they manifest in enzymatic systems. We will use nature's "simplest" catalyst, the proton, to examine the physical principles of catalysis, followed by iron as a "simple" redox catalyst. These two models will then be used to address the similarities and differences between small-molecule catalysts and enzymes, including their substrate specificity, regio- and stereoselectivity, and enormous rate accelerations. After a unit on enzyme kinetics, we will proceed to a detailed, primary literature-based study of several enzymes of particular biological and environmental importance: namely, the cellulases, which recycle the cellulose that comprises 60-75% of global biomass; Rubisco, the world's most abundant enzyme, which converts CO2 into organic molecules; the oxygenases (cytochrome P450s and methane monooxygenases) and their oxygen carrier analogs (myoglobin/hemoglobin, hemerythrin, and hemocyanin); and nitrogenase, which converts atmospheric nitrogen to biologically usable form. Prerequisite: Organic Chemistry I.

Independent Work Quantitative Skills In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to ten hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.