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This is a tentative reading guide based on the 7th edition of Silverthorn’s human physiology; I
am still updating it so it follows the 8th edition.
Mammalian Physiology requires a basic understanding of cell biology and biochemistry. This has
been covered in previous (introductory) courses and is considered prerequisite knowledge. This
reading guide can be used to review this material using our textbook. There will be a quiz
posted on blackboard in the first week of class (week 1 quiz ) covering this material.
2-4 BIOCHEMISTRY
The study of the functioning of the human body requires basic knowledge of chemistry and
physics. Molecular interactions are essential to understand the principle of homeostasis and
other physiological principles and mechanisms. Most of the material listed below is
introductory chemistry and biology, with a focus on understanding protein function and
biological membranes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1
Week 1: Biochemistry, proteins, and membrane dynamics
List and define seven protein categories, most important ones: enzyme, signal
molecules, receptors)
Define binding/active site, substrate, ligand
Define affinity, specificity, competition, agonist, competitive antagonist (called inhibitor
in our text) (p. 46-49)
o Recognize that changes in amino acid sequence can alter protein chemistry,
affinity, specificity, etc. (it’s good to know the basic structure of amino acids and
that amino acids vary in the R group)
Activation and modulation, define allosteric modulation vs. covalent modulation and an
example of each; recognize that physical factors, such as pH can alter protein structure,
chemistry and function (p. 51-49)
Define saturation (p. 51)
93-102 Enzymes
Define exergonic and endergonic reactions, activation energy (fig. 4.3)
Define enzymes (p. 98)
Recognize that enzymes lower the activation energy of reactions (fig. 4.7)
Recognize that enzymes exhibit all the properties of proteins, including affinity,
specificity, competition, modulation
111-118 Central dogma DNA -> RNA -> amino acid chain
Distinguish between transcription and translation (fig. 4.18)
Recognize that proteins can be modified (posttranslational modification, p. 116)
Fig. 3.7
5 MEMBRANE DYNAMICS
Membrane dynamics are important for maintaining the dynamic steady states of the body’s
intracellular and extracellular compartments. Concentration differences drive the movement of
substances, which is often selective depending on the type of membrane proteins expressed
on/in a cell.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
2
Week 1: Biochemistry, proteins, and membrane dynamics
o Describe bulk flow and recognize that how fluids flow depending on pressure
gradients (p. 132).
o Recognize that molecules diffuse down the concentration gradient (p. 134).
o Describe the factors that determine the rate of diffusion (fig. 5.7).
Describe facilitated diffusion (p. 137)
Describe active transport and contrast it to facilitated diffusion (p. 137, 143-145)
o Distinguish between primary active transport (example: Na+ and K+ transport,
fig. 5.15) and;
o Secondary active transport using symport or antiport carriers (example: glucose
transport, fig. 5.16).
Describe epithelial transport in fig. 5.2 and identify for each membrane protein how
substances move or are transported in terms of facilitated diffusion, primary active
transport, and secondary active transport, symporter, antiporter