Chemistry & the Brain
PSYC 556 –NEUR 600 Thursdays 1:30-4:10p, Krasnow 229
Prerequisites: Psyc 372 (Biopsychology) or permission of the instructor.
Course Goals: This is an intense introduction to chemistry and biochemistry, recommended for graduate or advanced undergraduate neuroscience and psychology students with less than five chemistry credits. The goal is to provide students with sufficient knowledge to understand and appreciate the molecular bases of neuroscience, including the physiological action of nerve conductance and synaptic transmission, and the functional mechanisms of common psychoactive drugs and neuropathologies. We will start from the foundations of general chemistry and cover all major classes of organic compounds. We will then go into the properties and functions of the most important biopolymers, with particular emphasis on proteins. Finally, we will integrate this knowledge in the context of neuronal organization, with examples relevant to neuroscience.
Contents in Brief: Fundamentals of general chemistry - atoms, molecules, and reactions, with emphasis on water solutions. Organic compounds and functional groups - (bio)synthesis, reactivity, and examples from the nervous system. Biopolymers and their roles in cellular and neuronal organization - ionic channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and psychoactive substances.
Method of Instruction and Evaluation: Weekly lectures will be divided in two portions of approximately 1hr15min, with a 10min break in the middle. Active student participation and class discussion are warmly encouraged. Mandatory readings and homework questions will be assigned every week. Each lecture will be preceded by a homework discussion by the students (this will be an opportunity to review and expand the material as well). This means that each student will be called several times during the semester to explain and discuss how (s)he answered the assigned question(s) to the rest of the class. After class, I will email the called student(s) with direct feedback and a grade corresponding to their answers. Student attendance and punctuality are required (3 late arrivals >10 minute = 1 absence; 3 absences = 1 homework “F”). The final exam will be take-home, open-book, and in the style of the homework questions assigned throughout the semester. Final grades will be based on 50% class participation and homework discussion, and 50% final exam. Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A+ and A, 4.00; A-, 3.67; B+, 3.33; B, 3.00; B-, 2.67 (undergrad only); C+, 2.33 (undergrad only); C, 2.00; D, 1.00 (undergrad only); F, 0.00.
Instructor: Dr. Giorgio Ascoli - Ph. x3-4383,
E-mail: ascoli@gmu.edu
Office location: Krasnow Institute, Rm. 223
Office hours: Monday 3-4p, Thursday 4:15-5:15p, or by appointment.
Required Text: Blei & Odian, General, Organic, and Biochemistry, Second Edition (NY: Freeman).
Other
Technology Requirement: Ability to access the web and email communication.
Honor Code: GMU Academic Policies apply in full (http://www.gmu.edu/catalog/apolicies/)
If you are a student with a disability and you
need academic
accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource
Center (
(Approx.) Class Schedule of Topics and
1) 1/24: Introduction – Atoms, molecules, reactions. Periodic table. [Chapters 1-4]. Assignments (due 1/31): Study Chapter 2 and 3, referring to Chapters 1 and 4 as you need/wish. Stare at the Periodic Table for at least 10 minutes. Read Chapters 8 and 9. Exercises from Chapter 2: 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 44, 46. Exercises from Chapter 3: 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 32.
2) 1/31: Electronegativity, metals, and redox. Acid, bases, salts. Bonds. Water. [Chapters 6-9]. Assignments (due 2/7): Study Chapter 8 and 9, referring to Chapters 6 and 7 as you need/wish. Stare at the Periodic Table for at least another 10 minutes. Read Chapters 11 and 12. Exercises from Chapter 8: 6, 8, 10, 16, 18, 20, 28, 30, 38. Exercises from Chapter 9: 2, 6, 8, 16, 18, 24, 50, 66, 70, 74, 76.
Last day to drop without penalty and last day to add: 2/5.
3) 2/7: Organic compounds and the Carbon atom. Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic compounds. [Chapters 11, 12]. Assignments (due 2/14): Study Chapter 11 and 12. Read Chapters 13 and 14. Exercises from Chapter 11: 2, 6, 10, 16, 18, 20, 34, 56. Exercises from Chapter 12: 2, 8, 12, 20, 28, 42, 56, 64. Review chapters 1-10 as needed.
4) 2/14: Alcohols, ethers, aldheydes, and ketones. Polar and apolar compounds. [Chapters 13, 14]. REVIEW of classes 1-4. Assignments (due 2/21): Study Chapters 13 and 14. Read Chapter 15. Exercises from Chapter 13: 4, 14, 24, 36, 40, 42, 48, 56, 60, 62. Exercises from Chapter 14: 4, 8, 14, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 36, 50.
5) 2/21 Carboxyl acids and esters. [Chapter 15]. Assignments (due 2/28): Study Chapter 15. Read Chapter 16. Exercises from Chapter 15: 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 24, 28, 32, 40, 48, 60, 62, 64.
Last day to drop: 2/22.
6) 2/28: Amines and amides. [Chapter 16]. Assignments (due 3/6): Study Chapter 16. Read Chapters 17 and 20. Exercises from Chapter 16: 2, 10, 14, 20, 32, 42, 44, 48, 60, 64. Please Review All Material and DO Catch Up... and start working on the Practical Test (Q/A next week)!
7) 3/6: Stereoisomers. Aminoacids. [Chapter 17]. Assignments (due 3/20): Study Chapter 17 and first half of 20. Read Chapters 22 and second half of 20. Explore (for at least 30 minutes) the following web links: (1) Amino Acid Properties, (2) More AA properties, (3) Cool Animated AA Basics. Exercises from Chapter 17: 2, 10, 12, 20, 22, 30, 36, 42. Exercises from Chapter 20: 2, 4. Finish the Practical Test (DUE after the break)!
Spring Break 3/13.
8) 3/20: Proteins: Primary structure and post-translational modifications. Higher-order structures. Prions. Ligand binding. Enzymes and enzymatic cascades. [Chapters 20, 22]. REVIEW of classes 5-8. Assignments (due 3/27): Study second half of Chapter 20 and Chapter 22. Read Chapter 18. Exercises from Chapter 20: 16, 22, 24, 26, 30, 34, 36, 52, 54, 58, 60, 62, 66, 76, 84. Exercise from Chapter 22: 24. Browse and explore for at least 45 minutes the Expasy Molecular Biology server.
9) 3/27: Other macromolecules: Carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Information flow and genomics. The metabolic chart. [Chapters 18, 21]. Assignments (due 4/12): Study Chapter 18 and 21. Read Chapters 19 and 24. Please do catch up with both readings and assignments! Start working on the second half of the mock up exam. This will be due on 4/17, but if any question is unclear you should ask next week.
10) 4/3: Lipids, cell membranes, and cell structure. Ionic gradients and channels. [Chapters 19, 24, and Handouts]. Assignments (due 4/10): Study Chapter 19, read Chapter 26. Check out and browse ionic channel information at the following links: (1) Neuromuscular, (2) Bioinformatics. Exercises from Chapter 19: 12, 20, 28, 30, 32, 52, 54, 58, 80, 90.
11) 4/10: Neurotransmitters, ligand- and
voltage-gated
ionotropic receptors, metabotropic receptors and second messengers.
[Chapters
23, 25, and Handouts]. Assignments (due 4/17): Read Chapters 23 and 25;
Study
Chapter 26 and this series
of
receptor reviews. Complete the second half
of the mock
up exam.
12) 4/17: Drugs and the nervous system. Structure, transport, interaction, and mechanisms. Benzodiazepines, cocaine, and other psychoactive substances. [Chapter 26 and Handouts]. REVIEW of classes 9-12.
No Class 4/24.
13) 5/1: Biochemistry: from theory to practice. Common lab techniques,
terms,
etc. (a survival guide to Materials & Methods in neuroscience
papers).
Grand Review (classes 1-13) and Take Home Exam assignment.
E) 5/8: Take Home Exam due 4:15p.