Degree Offered
Doctor of Philosophy
Dual Degree Program
Qualified medical students may be admitted into a program leading to the acquisition of both a PhD and MD degree.
Program Admission Requirements
Admission to the Biochemistry Graduate Program is through the Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences. After completion of the first year curriculum of that program, students who choose to complete their dissertation work with faculty of the Biochemistry Department will have the opportunity to continue their graduate studies by selecting from among a wide range of courses that are offered within the Biochemistry Department as well as other programs at MCW. Courses to be taken are based on the student's interests in consultation with the student's dissertation committee.
Courses
Biochem 02201 Medical Biochemistry. 7 semester hours. Permission of course director to enroll is required.
This course exposes students to the molecular and chemical principles of life. The medical relevance of the course is emphasized by clinical correlations and case-based discussions.
Biochem 02208: Biophysical Techniques in Biochemistry. 3 semester hours.
Aspects of the physical properties of proteins and nucleic acids and how those properties relate to the structure and function of these molecules are presented. Various approaches for determining conformation and molecular weight will be discussed including measurements of hydrodynamic effects, light absorption, fluorescence, optical rotation, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, and X-ray diffraction.
Biochem 02222: Advanced Protein Chemistry. 3 semester hours.
With complete sequences for the genomes of human and many other species now available, much of the attention in molecular biological research is rapidly turning to the characterization of organism-wide collections of gene products, often referred to as functional genomics or proteomics. Just as the human genome project catalyzed generational advanced in DNA sequencing technology, current trends demand improved methods for efficient cloning, production and physical characterization of recombinant proteins. With the changing nature of protein characterization in mind, this course will focus on the practical aspects of protein production and characterization, including the steps most commonly encountered in the development of strategies for three-dimensional structural characterization by NMR or x-ray crystallography. New methods and optimization of standard approaches for high-throughput applications will be emphasized, including techniques ranging from chromatography and electrophoresis to mass spectrometry, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy.
Biochem 02207A: Enzyme Kinetics and Receptor Binding: Theory & Practice. 1 Credit Hour
This course teaches both the theoretical framework and practical aspects of enzyme kinetics and receptor binding studies. Topics covered include basic steady state kinetics including the determination and meaning of Km and Vmax values for simple and multisubstrate reactions, determination binding properties and kinetic consequences of common reversible inhibitors (competitive, non-competitive, uncompetitive, mixed), slow-on,slow-off inhibitors and irreversible inactivators. Dissociation constants and procedures for determining them will be discussed for both enzymes and macromolecular receptors. Practical methodologies for determining presteady state kinetics will be presented. Practical aspects of designing kinetic studies will be discussed and later sessions of the course will involve reading and student-led discussions of studies in the literature that illustrate ways in which studies of enzyme kinetics or receptor binding advanced the study of particular enzymes and other macromolecules. Over the 6 week duration of the course each student will prepare a short report in which they describe the design and, if possible, execution of a series of kinetic or receptor binding studies that draw on the teachings of the course and are related to the work they propose to carry out for their thesis.
Biochem 02248: Structural Basis of Macromolecular Interactions. 1 Credit Hour
With the explosion of the number of three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules that have been determined, it is imperative to learn how to study their structures in detail and learn the molecular basis for their functions. This course discusses the mechanism of action and the relationship between structure and function of selected groups of biological macromolecules. The molecules studied range from enzymes (both soluble and membrane-bound) to proteins involved in signal transduction and in epigenetic gene regulation. At the end of the course, the student will attain the skills to analyze the relationship between structures and functions of the proteins.
Biochem 02276: Special Topics in Biochemistry. 1 Credit Hour This is an advanced course that will focus on the signaling and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that underlie stem cell differentiation. Issues to be addressed will include regulation of pluripotency and signaling pathways controlling stem cell differentiation. The course will focus on readings from the primary literature. Students will be expected to have sufficient background to read and discuss issues in the literature and/or to carry out the appropriate background reading required to discuss the assigned readings.
Course enrollment: Limited to between 4-8 students.
Prerequisites: Biochemistry of the Cell 16202; Mol Cellular Biology 16244; and Mechanisms of Cellular Signaling; or permission of the course director.
Biochem 02251: Advanced Molecular Genetics. 3 semester hours.
The background to six different specific topics in molecular genetics is presented in an initial lecture followed by several discussion sessions in which research papers from that area are presented and critically evaluated. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to critically read and evaluate experimental approaches and data from original research papers. Examples of topics include: the DNA binding properties of proteins; regulation of gene expression at the translation level; mechanisms of DNA replication; regulation of gene expression by enhancer elements; and DNA transposition mechanisms.
Biochem 02295: Readings and Research. Semester hours to be arranged.
Biochem 02301: Seminar. 1 semester hour.
Students are given practice in presenting and evaluating their research data. Solutions to research problems encountered are also discussed. Seminar is required beginning in the second semester and continues throughout each student's program.
Biochem 02399: Doctoral Dissertation. 9 semester hours.
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