MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

Months Dates Topic Teaching Facilitator

Method HRS
September Cells Mr.
Lectures/ Simwatachela
25/09/2019 Structure and differentiation Tutorial
Cell organelles and their functions
Tissues and organs
30/09/2019 Membrane transport

October Structural organization

transportation through the
membrane

4/10/2019 Water and Biomolecule Mr.

Sinyangwe
Water and its colligative properties

Biomolecular forces and

interactions
Amino acids: structure and
properties

(Classification, properties, general

reactions, peptide bond formation)
18/10/2019 Protein dynamics: Structure and Mr. Chabala
functions
Structures, physical properties;
precipitation reactions,
classification, quantitative
estimation
Enzymology
(General concepts and Enzyme
kinetics)
Nomenclature, properties and
classification
Kinetics and mechanism of
enzymatic catalysis
Cofactors, coenzymes and
prosthetic groups
November 1/11/2019 Modes of action Mr. Chisanga
 MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

Michaelis- Menten theory;

Fischer’s template theory; Induced
fit theory
Active sites, Thermodynamic
considerations
Enzyme kinetics

8/11/2019 Factors influencing enzymatic Mr. Chababa

catalysis
Specific enzyme binding and
regulation of Enzymes
Enzyme inhibitors and their
mechanisms
Isoenzymes

Clinical enzymology and

isoenzymes.
15/11/2019 Chemistry of carbohydrates Dr. Babu S.

Nomenclature, stereoisomers;
Reactions of monosaccharides
Disaccharides and polysaccharides

Heteropolysaccharides,
Mucopolysaccharides
Glycoproteins, mucoproteins
Clinical significance of
carbohydrates
14:00 hrs 4/12/2019 TEST ONE (1) 2hrs

December 6/12/2019 Chemistry of lipids Mr. Shandele

Classification. Fatty acids; saturated

and unsaturated fatty acids;
Trans fatty acids, natural fatty acids;

Phospholipids

20/12/2019 END OF TERM BREAK

6/01/2020 Introduction to metabolism Lectures/ Mr. Chabala

(Anabolism and catabolism) Tutorial
8/01/2020 Principles of Bioenergetics & Lab practical
Oxidative phosphorylation
January 10/01/2020 Electron Transport Chain and
Oxidative Phosphorylation
 MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

Intermediary Metabolism
(CARBOHYDRATES)
13/01/2020 Glycolytic pathway

15/01/2020 Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle

17/01/2020 Gluconeogenesis

20/01/2020 Glycogenesis

22/01/2020 Glycogenolysis

24/01/2020 Glycogen storage diseases & Mr.

Inborn errors of glycogen Smwatachela
metabolism
Pentose Phosphate Pathway

31/01/2020 Carbohydrate Metabolic Mr. Chabala

adaption in starvation and
fed states

Carbohydrate metabolic
derangements and
adaptation in diabetes
mellitus

14:00 hrs 5/02/2019 TEST TWO (1) 2hrs

February Intermediary Metabolism Mr. Shandele

(LIPIDS)
Digestion of dietary lipids

Fatty acid and TAG metabolism

Lipoprotein
De novo Biosynthesis of Fatty
Acids
Elongation, Desaturation and
storage of fatty acids
17/02/2020 β- Oxidation of fatty Acids Mr. Chabala

Ketone body metabolism;

Diabetes ketosis
24/02/2020 Cholesterol synthesis Mr.
Smwatachela
Cholesterol disposal and bile
formation
 MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

Lipoproteins; Transportation of
lipids: Hyperlipoproteinemia
Lipid storage disorders
Lipid Metabolic adaption in
starvation and fed states
Lipid metabolic derangements
and adaptation in diabetes
mellitus
March 16/03/2020 Intermediary Metabolism Mr. Shandele
(NUCLEIC ACIDS)
Applied aspects
Purine and pyrimidine
metabolism
DNA replication and repair
DNA transcription
Post- transcription processing
Gout

Gene expression and regulation

of expression
10/04/2020 END OF TERM TWO BREAK

April 20/4/2020 Intermediary Metabolism Mr.

(PROTEINS) Smwatachela
Genetic code
Genetic translation

Protein synthesis
Inhibitors of protein synthesis
Protein and Amino acid
Catabolism via urea cycle
Protein Metabolic adaption in
starvation and fed states
Protein metabolic derangements
and adaptation in diabetes
mellitus
Amino acid metabolism

Disposal of amino acid nitrogen

and detoxication of urea
May 6/05/2020 Metabolic fate of amino acid Dr. Babu
carbon skeleton
Sulphur containing amino acids
 MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

In born errors of branched chain

and aromatic amino acids
Important amino acid derivatives.

14:00 hrs 13/05/2020 TEST THREE (3) 2hrs

15/05/2020 Metabolic integration Mr.

(Endocrine and organ based) Sinyangwe
Molecular basis of hormonal
action
signal transduction mechanisms

Chemistry functions and

mechanism of action of
hormones of the pituitary
Thyroid

Parathyroid

Adrenals

June 08/06/2020 Panaceas Dr. babu

Gonadotropic hormones

Pineal body

Endorphins and encephalins

Calcium homeostasis

Phosphate Homeostasis

July 10/07/2019 Study break

Study break
27/07/2019 End of Semester Exam
End of Year Break
Registration

ASSESSMENT
 MCT 201 – MEDICAL BIOCHMISTRY

TEACHING SCHEDULE 2019/20

Continuous Assessment: Three tests, a minimum of four laboratory

practical, and two assignments (Marks total 40%)

Final Examination:

a) Paper 1 Multiple choice Questions.

b) Paper 2 Short Answer and Essays.

c) Paper 3 Practical.

Note: Theory Papers 1 and 2 contribute 50% and 10% Practical, making a total of 60%
final

examination aggregate total.

PRESCRIBED TEXTBOOKS
1. Harvey R., and Ferrier D. (2014 or 2011) Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews:
Biochemistry, 6th or 5th Edition, Lippincott William and Wilkins Publishers,
Philadelphia, USA.
2.Vasudevan D., Sreekumari S., Vaidyanathan K. (2013) Textbook of Biochemistry
for Medical Students, 7th edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, New Delhi,
India.
3. Murray R.K., Bender D.A., Botham K.M., Kennelly P.J, Rodwell V.W., Weil P.A.
(2012). Harpers Illustrated Biochemistry, 29th Edition. McGraw Hill Medical. ISBN
978-007165763.
4. Albert Lehninger, D. Nelson; Michael Cox (2017; 7th edition, Lehninger Principles
of Biochemistry; M.H. Freeman
5. V. Rodwell, Benmder D; Kennelly P. and Weil P (2018) Harper’s illustrated
Biochemistry, 31st edition; McGraw-Hill Medical