ALERTS

GRADES

Course
Syllabus

Reading
for the 
Week

Quizzes

Keys to
Quizzes

Problems

Keys to
Problems 

 Old Exams

Keys to 
 Old Exams
 

Term 
Paper

Keys to 
 Home-
work Problems
 

CHEM 453/653
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

Instructor:  Dr. Hosmane

The Course Web Site:  http://research.umbc.edu/~hosmane/CHEM453.html

Course Description: A survey of organic chemical principles governing structure, properties and  reactions of nucleic acids, including chemical and biosynthesis of nucleic acid bases, nucleosides,  nucleotides, and polynucleotides, and their important synthetic analogues possessing antiviral and antitumor properties. Study of reactivity of nucleic acid building blocks, including addition and substitution reactions, ring-openings, rearrangements, hydrolysis of glycosidic and phosphodiester bonds, photochemical reactions, and enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Study of primary structure,  including acid-base property, tautomerism, and conformation of nucleic acids. Review of secondary structure, including base-pairing and stacking interactions, helical structure, stability, conformation, denaturation, and renaturation.  Study of DNA-drug interactions, including non-covalent and covalent intercalators, cross-linking reagents, DNA-cleaving antibiotics, and groove-binders.  Discussion of important enzymes associated with nucleic acids, including phosphatases, nucleases, ligases, kinases, and polymerases.  Synthesis of Nucleic Acids.  Gene Sequencing and Cloning.