SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry is the study of biological molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which form the morphological structures represented by the cell and cellular organelles, provide machinery for the inheritance and expression of genetic information, and energise catalytic transformations essential to cellular growth and reproduction. The study of the nature of these molecules and their reactions has brought about rapid advances in the biological and medical sciences, and has further- more enabled the development of biotechnological industries that are playing an increasingly important role in the global economy.
The Department of Biochemistry offers comprehensive teaching and research programmes in both basic and applied aspects of biochemistry. At the same time it maintains a close relationship with the Biotechnology Research Institute, reflecting the fundamental significance of biochemistry in that field.
Both the teaching and research laboratories in the Department are equipped with advanced instrumentation. Equipment, serving biochemical and biotechnological studies. include rotei in seauencer, oliaonucleotide svnthesiser, DNA sequencer, centrifugal partitiin chromatigraph, fermentor and cell culture facilities.
Faculty
Professor and Head of Department:
Jerry H. C. WANG, BSc National Taiwan, PhD Iowa State Professors:
Tian-Yow TSONG, MSc, PhD Yale
(Director of Biotechnology Research Institute) J. Tze Fei WONG, BA, PhD Toronto
Senior Lecturers/Associate Professors:
James A. HACKETT, BSc, PhD Dublin; PhD Australian National
Raymond S.C. WONG, Dip Hong Kong Baptist Coll; MSc, PhD South Dakota State
Lecturers/Assistant Professors:
Hueih-Min CHEN, BSc National Taiwan Normal; DSc Univ of Texas, Arlington King-Chuen CHOW, BSc, MPhil Chinese Univ of Hong Kong; PhDToronto Yi-Fan HAN, BS Shanghai First MedicalColl; MS Peking Union MedicalColl; PhD
Medical Coll of Ohio
Robert K.M. KO, BSc, MPhil Chinese Univ of Hong Kong; PhD British Columbia Peter H.Y. LAM, BSc Chinese Univ of Hong Kong; PhD Univ of Wisconsin,
Madison
Fwu-Shan SHEU, BS National Taiwan; MS, PhD Northwestern
Wan-keung R. WONG, Dip Hong Kong Baptist Coll; MSc Regina; PhD British Columbia
Hong XUE, MSc Shanghai Second Military Medical Univ; PhD Toronto Mingjie ZHANG, BSc Fudan PhD Calgary
Huan-Xiang ZHOU, BSc Wuhan; MSc, PhD Drexel
Guang ZHU, BSc Northwestern; MSc Old Dominion; PhD Maryland
School of Science Department of Biochemistry
Undergraduate Programme
The objective of the BSc programme in Biochemistry is to instruct students in understanding biochemical molecules and processes, and to provide training in the methodologies used in laboratory investigation. The programme emphasises both theory and experimentation.
Admission Requirements 1996-97
In addition to the general entrance requirements of the University, acceptable grades are required in two AL subjects plus one AUAS subject. One of the subjects must be AL Chemistry, and one other must be AUAS Biology.
Curriculum for BSc in Biochemistry Core courses Structure and Function of Proteins lmmunochemistry no. of courses total credits
ENGG Engineering elective 1 3
(2) FREE Free elective 2 7
(3) H&SS Humanities and Social Science elective 4 12 SB&M Business and Management elective 2 6 Additional requirement
(4) LANG 001 Language Skills Enhancement l Notes:
(1) Students admitted with an acceptable grade in AL Pure Mathematics will replace this course with an approved course in the School of Science. Students admitted with Additional Mathematics in HKCEE may not take MATH 005.
(2) MATH 006 is an optional requirement in the curriculum. If taken, it may be counted as a FREE elective. Students should note that they should have taken MATH 005 and have the approval of the Department if they wish to enrol in MATH 006.
(3) Of these courses, at least one course in Humanities and one in Social Science are required.
(4) Students admitted without grade C or above in AS Use of English will be required to take and pass this course during the first semester of attendance.
A minimum of 100 credits is required for the BSc programme in Biochemistry.
Recommended pattern of study for the curriculum 1st year Fall C BICH 121 ;
E H&SS, SB&M (Total: 18 credits) Spring C BICH 214, CHEM 154;
R BlOL 2021206, LANG 103;
E FREE (Total: 17 credits)
3rd year Fall C BICH 355, BlCH 363, BlCH 376;
E FREE, H&SS, SB&M (Total: 18 credits) Spring C BlCH 303, BICH 31 3, BlCH 31 8, BlCH 3661398;
E H&SS (Total: 14 credits)
C = core course; R = required course; E = elective course; 0 = other course
School of Science Department of Biochemistq
Postgraduate Programmes and Research
The Department of Biochemistry conducts a comprehensive research pro- gramme providing an excellent postgraduate education in both basic and applied aspects of biochemistry. ~epartmental staff perform research and development work in the areas of aenetic and protein engineering, immunochemistry, plant and medicinal biochemistry, and neurochemistry. Facultyworking in each
of
these areas form a coordinated research team. Such coordination takes full advantage of the faculty's expertise in generating innovative development and productive research. At the same time it creates a stimulating atmosphere in which students receive training in the latest techniques and experience the challenge of modern research through direct participa- tion.The Department offers postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry. The Department also participates in the Master of Science (MSc) programme in Biotechnology and Master of Science (MSc) programmes in Environmental Science and Engineering.
Admission to the MPhil programme in Biochemistry or the MSc programme in Biotechnology requires a BSc degree in biochemistry, chemistry, a biological science, or engineering. Admission to the PhD programme requires a BSc, an MPhil or an MSc degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, a biological science, or engineering.
Transfer to the PhD programme after completion of at least one year of the MPhil or MSc programme may be considered on the basis of a progress review.
Master of Science (MSc) Programme in Biotechnology
This multi-disciplinary programme is jointly offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Civil and Structural Engineering. For details, please refer to page 112.
Master of Science (MSc) Programmes in Environmental Science and Engineering
These are multi-disciplinary programmes jointly offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineer- ing and Mechanical Engineering. For details, please refer to page 181.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Programme in Biochemistry
The MPhil programme in Biochemistry enables students to acquire the experi- ence and judgement required for research on biochemical projects. While an original contribution
6
biochemical knowledge is not a prerequisite to the completion of the MPhil dearee. the attainment of scientific competence is important. The duration of the program&e normally rangesfrom 18 months tb three year s f or full-time studies, and can be extended to five years for part-time students. Students with a first degree in an area other than that of their postgraduate programme may be required to take additional courses.In fulfilling the degree requirements, students are expected to attend and present seminars, undertake course work and conduct thesis research. The passing
standard in a graded course is C and the overall average must be B or above. In the final stage of the programme, students are required to submit theses to the Department and, subsequently, to present and defend them. Any student who has performed unsatisfac- torily will be asked to re-submit the thesis. The result of the second attempt of the thesis defence will be either Pass or Fail.
Specific programme requirements are:
at least one of the following courses:
BlCH 363 Advanced Topics in Biotechnology [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 376 Biochemistry of Diseases [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 535 Food Biochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 541 lmmunochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 561 Physical Biochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BICH 551 Biochemical Instrumentation [0-0-4:3]
BlCH 601 Biochemistry Seminar l [0-1-0:1]
BlCH 602 Biochemistry Seminar II [0-1-0:1]
BlCH 699 MPhil Thesis Research; and
.
presentation and oral defence of MPhil thesis.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme in Biochemistry
The purpose of the PhD programme in Biochemistry is to prepare students, through completion of a research project, to become independbnt scientists capable of the design, initiation and execution of original research. The duration of the programme normally ranges from four to eight years from the first degree, with a reduction of 18 months if a relevant master's degree is earned prior to entering the PhD programme.
Students with afirst degree in an area other than their postgraduate programme may be required to take additional courses.
In fulfilling the degree requirements, students are expected to attend and present seminars, undertake course work and conduct thesis research. The passing standard in a graded course is C and the overall average must be B or above. Students are also required to pass a comprehensive/qualifyingexamination set by the Depart- ment. In the final stage of the programme, students are reauired to submit theses to the ~ - - ~~ -
-Department and, subsequently, i o present and defend them. Any student who has performed unsatisfactorily will be asked to re-submit the thesis. The result of the second attempt of the thesis defence will be either Pass or Fail.
Specific programme requirements are:
at least one of the following courses:
BlCH 376 Biochemistry of Diseases [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 535 Food Biochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 541 lmmunochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BlCH 561 Physical Biochemistry [3-0-0:3]
BICH 551 Biochemical Instrumentation [0-0-4:3]
BlCH 601 Biochemistry Seminar l [O-1-0:1]
BlCH 602 Biochemistry Seminar II [O-1-0:1]
at least six credits of course work outside of Biochemistry;
School of Science
comprehensive/qualifying examination;
BlCH 799 PhD Thesis Research; and presentation and oral defence of PhD thesis.
Faculty Research Interests
Professor Jerrv H. C. WANG, Head of Department
Enzymology o i signal transduction. ~ o v e l signal transduction processes in neurons.
Proteins kinases and protein phosphatases.
Professor Tian-Yow TSONG, Director of Biotechnology Research Institute
StructuraVFunctional relationship of protein; calorimetric study of protein stability;
kinetic investigation of protein folding; electric activation of enzyme activities and cellular functions.
Professor J. Tze Fei WONG
Origin of genetic coding; evolution of codon usages. Identity elements of transfer RNA;
mechanisms of substrate recognition by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Dextran- haemoglobin as an oxygen-delivering blood substitute.
Dr James A. HACKETT, Associate Professor
Molecular cloning and analysis of genes of Salmonella typhimurium. Vaccine develop- ment virulence against Salmonella. Molecular genetics of plasmid incompatibility and partition.
Dr Ravmond S. C. WONG, Associate Professor
Plant bioengineering through genetic manipulation and microspore culture system for the improvement of oilseed as well as Chinese vegetable crops (Brassics spp).
Dr Hueih-Min CHEN, Assistant Professor
Construction of anti-cancer peptides; structure-function relations of insulin; kinetics and thermodynamics of protein folding; computer-aided protein and peptide designs.
Dr King-Chuen CHOW, Assistant Professor
Improvement of stress tolerance of plant strains by genetic engineering; molecular biology and biochemistry of seed germination; mechanism of seed priming; develop- ment of gene overexpression systems for plants.
Dr Yi-Fan HAN, Assistant Professor
Molecular mechanisms of associative learning and memory; neuropsychopharmacologic research and develo~ment of memorv enhancers and analoesics includina those from Chinese medicinal herbs; protein phosphorylation in neuronal functions.
-
Dr Robert K. M. KO, Assistant Professor
Myocardial ischemialreperfusion injury and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity;
protection against such injuries by antioxidants; diabetic-induced alterations in tissue antioxidant defence; antioxidant properties of traditional Chinese medicinals in relation to their anti-aging activities; isolation of active principle(s) from Chinese medicinals.
Dr Peter H. Y. LAM, Assistant Professor
Biochemistry and pharmacology of calcium binding proteins; development of monoclonal and catalytic antibodies; protein expression in baculovirus and vaccinia systems; use of combinatorial epitope libraries and synthetic peptides in the development of thera- peutic and diagnostic agents.
Department of Biocbemishy
Dr Fwu-Shan SHEU, Assistant Professor
Biochemistry and electrophysiology of neuronal plasticity, signal transduction and information storage; identification of the molecular mechanisms of associative learnina and memory utilising both biochemical and electrophysiological methods. "
Dr Wan-Keung R. WONG, Assistant Professor
Cloning and expression of genes in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis; development of E.colisystems for extracellular production of valuable proteins; production and reconstitution of recombinant cellulases for use in energy generation and cellulosic waste management.
Dr Hong XUE, Assistant Professor
Neural receptor structures and functions; identity elements of transfer RNA. Germline gene targeting in mice is a major research tool.
Dr Ming-Jie ZHANG, Assistant Professor
High resolution, multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and genetic engineering studies of structure and function of proteins involved in eukaryotic signal transduction pathways and transcriptional regulations.
Dr Huan-Xiang ZHOU, Assistant Professor
Computer studies of the structure and function of proteins. Theories of ligand-protein, protein-protein, and protein-DNA interactions. Calculations of hydrodynamic properties of macromolecules.
Dr Guang ZHU, Assistant Professor
Protein structure determination by multidimensional NMR. Development and improve- ment of multidimensional NMR data processing procedures.
School of Science