Course Information

Student Learning Objectives and Competencies:

1. Become familiar with the major drug metabolizing enzymes, including the types of reactions they catalyze, their locations in the cell and the body, and their role in controlling the pharmacokinetics of drugs. Be able to relate concepts such as absorption, enzyme induction, enzyme inhibition and polymorphisms to issues of pharmacotherapy.


2. Become familiar with major metabolic pathways, the enzymes that control metabolic flux along the pathways, and how they are regulated by substrates, products and hormones. Be able to discuss the role of cholesterol, lipoproteins and cholesterol-lowering drugs in the treatment of atherosclerosis.


3. Understand the roles of hormones, intestinal absorption, liver, muscle, circulating lipoproteins and adipose in the catabolism and anabolism of sugars, proteins, and fats. Become familiar with organ and tissue inter-relationships in the feed-starve cycle and certain disease states such as diabetes, cancer, malnutrition and inherited diseases of metabolism.

Grading Policy:

Grades will be based solely on the scores from three one-hour in-class examinations. Examination format is short answer and essay (80%) and true/false (20%). An average of 90% or better equals a 4.0. An average of less than 50% equals a 0.0. Grades between 50-90% can be calcuated as: (Average-50) x 0.0825 + 0.7.

Course Web site:   http://courses.washington.edu/medch571/