Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors (COX-1 and COX-2) and Nonsterioidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

• Cyclooxygenase substrate and inflammation mechanism (e.g. phospholipid release of arachidonic acid, generation of prostaglandins and thromboxanes through cyclooxygenase pathway, of leukotrienes through lipoxygenase mechanism)
• Mechanism of Action of COX inhibitors
• Key structural features of NSAIDs and understanding of specific important interactions with COX enzymes
• Key differences between COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes and their respective inhibitors
• Rationale for the development of COX-2 inhibitors
• Understanding of resonance structures for COX - NSAIDs interaction geometry and mechanism
• Aspirin's unique mechanism of action for irreversible COX inhibition

• Understand the molecular basis of inflammation to include the role of phospholipases, arachidonic acid, cyclooxgenase, lipoxygenase, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes
• Understand the emerging relevance of inflammatory processes in various diseases
• Understand the importance of C-reactive protein levels and the enzyme drug targets that pharmaceutical companies are focusing on
• Explain the molecular mechanism of action for steroids as anti-inflammatories
• Explain the effects of anabolic steroids and of each of the two classes of corticosteroids (mineralcorticoids and glucocorticoids)
• Understand the roles of prednisone and cortisone medications respectively

• Understand the structure of DNA and RNA to include the major components and specific features; know how polynucleotides are synthesized and hydrolyzed
• Clearly explain the underlying physical basis for the attractions between the two strands of double helix DNA
• Understand the central dogma
• Explain what a gene is, what it does, and the two roles of the major regions (promoter and coding) of DNA gene templates

• Understand the structure of complex ions and be able to explain the basis for their interaction
• Relate Lewis acid/base chemistry to complex ion components
• Clearly explain why complexes are colored and demonstrate an understanding of relevant molecular orbital energies
• Show how transition metal ion valence electron energy levels shift as ions are introduced into octahedral and tetrahedral ligand environments; understand and be able to clearly explain the basis for these shifts
• Understand and diagram the structure of important biochemical complexes to include iron in hemoglobin, magnesium in chlorophyl and cobalt in B-12.
• Diagram and effectively discuss the structure of zinc fingers; clearly show the amino acid residues that interact with the zinc ion and how zinc fingers affect protein shape
• Explain the underlying basis for the zinc finger mechanism of action in steroidal interactions with DNA
• Discuss a new area of drug research that targets the zinc fingers in estrogen receptors to treat breast cancer

• Understand and be able to use the Second Law of Thermodynamics to predict reaction spontaneity
• Clearly explain how spontaneity is related to Free Energy change.
• Calculate Free Energy changes necessary to move substances across concentration gradients and to move ions across potential gradients
• Demonstrate the ability to calculate Free Energy changes, equilibrium constants, and electric potentials associated with given reactions
• Use tables of reduction potentials to predict reaction spontaneity
• Be able to relate concentrations to associated electric potentials (e.g. Nernst Equation) and changes in Free Energy
• Explain Free Energy changes associated with ATP-ADP interconversion; discuss and effectively use the concept of coupled reaction energetics
• Understand the sodium-potassium pump mechanism to maintain ion concentration gradients and the array of energetics associated with this
• Understand the role of oxidative phosphorylation as the major energetic source to generate ATP; outline the specific redox reaction that is coupled to ATP production

• Understand the relative intracellular and extracellular concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions
• Explain and calculate cell membrane potentials associated with ion concentration gradients
• Relate resting membrane potential to ion permeability and to intracellular/extracellular concentrations
• Describe the structure of voltage gated sodium ion channels and potassium ion channels to explain how they work.  Understand the role of these ion channels in moving nerve pulses down an axon
• Outline and clearly explain the steps that occur to pass a nerve impulse from one neuron to another
• Understand the two (nicotinic and muscarinic) major classes of cholinergic (acetylcholine) receptors and the mechanism of action for each
• Understand the role and the basic general mechanism of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) in cell signaling processes; explain the importance of these receptors in the pharmaceutical industry
• Clearly explain the two major mechanisms used to reduce neurotransmitter concentration levels at nerve synapses
• Know the structure of acetylcholine and explain how it is synthesized and hydrolyzed