The principles of physical chemistry applied to biological molecules and systems, including current approaches in structural biology.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: A term paper is required.
Athena Title
Physical Biochemistry
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
(BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100 or BCMB 4010/6010) and (PHYS 1112-1112L or PHYS 1212-1212L)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will analyze raw data to identify the best mathematical model that describes these data and calculate high confidence estimates for key kinetic and equilibrium constants.
Students will calculate the relative contributions of entropy, enthalpy, heat, and work to chemical equilibria.
Students will evaluate the contributions of molecular interactions and conformational entropy to protein stability.
Students will describe the theoretical concept of energy and how this applies to biological systems at an atomic scale.
Students will compare and contrast modern biophysical methods that evaluate biochemical mechanisms.
Students will explain how microscopic properties affect macroscopic behaviors of molecules.
Students will compare and contrast cooperativity and allostery and give examples of how each can influence protein function.
Topical Outline
1. Thermodynamics: State functions, Energy, enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, The Laws of thermodynamics, Chemical potential and Equilibrium, Calorimetry, Buffers and pH, Electrochemical potential and ion transport, Redox reactions and the Nernst equation, Electron transport and bioenergetics
2. Kinetics: Chemical Kinetics, Zero, first, second, and higher order reactions, Determining Rate Laws, Consecutive Reactions, Complex Reactions and Approximations, Real World Kinetics, Enzyme Kinetics, Introduction to Enzyme functions, Michaelis-Menten Mechanism, Interpreting Enzyme Kinetic Data, Enzyme Inhibition
3. Quantum theory: Fundamentals of quantum theory, Quantum theory - Particle in a box
4. The role of physical chemistry in current biochemical techniques: Electronic spectroscopy and fluorescence, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Surface Plasmon resonance, Separations, Mass spectrometry and proteomics
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
