Sciences · Advanced

Biochemistry Instruction.

Biochemistry is the chemistry of life — the molecular story behind every cellular process. It is the most rigorous science on the MCAT and one of the most demanding courses in the pre-med curriculum.

Mr. Sharma teaches biochemistry with the depth medical school prerequisites and the MCAT actually require, from amino-acid structure through the full metabolic pathways.

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Course Snapshot

Biochemistry at a glance.

The essentials every student and family should understand before beginning coursework or tutoring.

Course Level
College / MCAT preparation
Duration
Semester or intensive review
Prerequisites
General chemistry · Introductory biology · Organic chemistry (recommended)
Standardized Alignment
MCAT · Medical school prerequisites
Format
One-on-one live online tutoring
Coverage
College biochemistry, MCAT biochemistry

Section 01

Course Overview

Biochemistry unifies organic chemistry and cell biology into a molecular account of how living systems function.

The course begins with the four macromolecules — proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids — with special emphasis on protein structure and enzyme kinetics.

The second half develops the major metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty-acid oxidation, and the pentose phosphate pathway — with special attention to regulation and MCAT-style integration.

Section 02

Major Units

The core structure of the course — every student progresses through these units in a deliberate, connected sequence.

  1. Unit 01

    Amino Acids & Protein Structure

    Amino-acid properties, primary through quaternary structure.

  2. Unit 02

    Enzymes & Kinetics

    Michaelis-Menten, inhibition, and regulation.

  3. Unit 03

    Carbohydrates

    Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins.

  4. Unit 04

    Lipids & Membranes

    Fatty acids, phospholipids, membrane structure, and transport.

  5. Unit 05

    Nucleic Acids

    DNA and RNA structure, replication, and repair mechanisms.

  6. Unit 06

    Bioenergetics

    ATP, redox reactions, and thermodynamic driving forces.

  7. Unit 07

    Glycolysis & Gluconeogenesis

    The central metabolic hub and its regulation.

  8. Unit 08

    Citric Acid Cycle

    Acetyl-CoA processing and metabolic integration.

  9. Unit 09

    Oxidative Phosphorylation

    The electron transport chain and ATP synthase.

  10. Unit 10

    Fatty-Acid & Amino-Acid Metabolism

    β-oxidation, ketogenesis, and nitrogen metabolism.

Section 03

Complete Topic & Subtopic Tree

Every topic covered in the full course, broken down into the specific subtopics Mr. Sharma teaches one-on-one.

Molecules of Life

Amino Acids

  • Structure & properties
  • Classification
  • Acid-base behavior
  • Isoelectric point

Protein Structure

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
  • Quaternary

Protein Function

  • Enzymes
  • Binding proteins
  • Motor proteins
  • Structural proteins

Nucleic Acids

  • DNA structure
  • RNA types
  • Nucleotide chemistry

Enzyme Kinetics & Regulation

Enzyme Basics

  • Active site
  • Cofactors
  • Coenzymes
  • Turnover number

Kinetics

  • Michaelis-Menten
  • Lineweaver-Burk
  • Vmax & Km
  • Catalytic efficiency

Inhibition

  • Competitive
  • Non-competitive
  • Uncompetitive
  • Mixed

Regulation

  • Allosterism
  • Covalent modification
  • Feedback inhibition
  • Zymogens

Metabolism I

Glycolysis

  • Ten steps
  • Regulation
  • Fates of pyruvate
  • Investment vs. payoff phases

Citric Acid Cycle

  • Eight steps
  • Regulation
  • Anaplerotic reactions
  • Products & carriers

Oxidative Phosphorylation

  • Complexes I – IV
  • ATP synthase
  • Chemiosmosis
  • P/O ratios

Gluconeogenesis

  • Reciprocal regulation
  • Cori cycle
  • Substrates
  • Unique enzymes

Metabolism II & Integration

Lipid Metabolism

  • β-oxidation
  • Fatty-acid synthesis
  • Ketogenesis
  • Cholesterol biosynthesis

Amino-Acid Metabolism

  • Transamination
  • Urea cycle
  • Glucogenic vs. ketogenic
  • Nitrogen balance

Pentose Phosphate Pathway

  • Oxidative phase
  • Non-oxidative phase
  • NADPH
  • Ribose synthesis

Metabolic Integration

  • Fed vs. fasted state
  • Insulin vs. glucagon
  • Cortisol
  • Exercise metabolism

Section 04

Skills Developed

The underlying skills every student builds in this course — the durable abilities that carry through to advanced coursework and standardized exams.

Skill

Conceptual Understanding

Learning why the mathematics or science works — not just which button to press.

Skill

Problem-Solving Fluency

Breaking multi-step problems into manageable, repeatable moves.

Skill

Precise Notation & Language

Writing arguments cleanly enough that another mathematician or scientist can follow them.

Skill

Quantitative Reasoning

Choosing the right structure and estimating whether an answer is plausible.

Skill

Independent Study Habits

Reading a textbook, working through examples, and self-checking without a teacher present.

Skill

Exam Readiness

Sustained accuracy under timed conditions, on both school exams and standardized tests.

Section 05

Common Student Challenges

The patterns Mr. Sharma sees most often — and exactly how each is addressed during tutoring.

Section 06

Why Biochemistry Matters

Why this course is one of the highest-leverage academic investments a family can make.

Why It Matters

The Highest-Yield MCAT Content

Biochemistry appears heavily across the MCAT — arguably the highest-yield subject to master.

Why It Matters

Medical School Prerequisite

Nearly every medical school requires a full year of biochemistry or a strong equivalent.

Why It Matters

Research Foundation

Every wet-lab, pharmaceutical, and biotech research program uses biochemistry vocabulary.

Why It Matters

Nutrition & Physiology

Understanding metabolism is core to modern nutrition science and clinical physiology.

Why It Matters

Pharmacology On-Ramp

Drug mechanisms, enzyme inhibition, and metabolism are all applied biochemistry.

Why It Matters

Molecular Medicine

Diseases like diabetes, cancer, and metabolic disorders are best understood at the biochemical level.

Section 07

Connections to Other STEM Subjects

How Biochemistry connects to the rest of the Mr. Sharma curriculum — the courses it prepares students for, and the exams it supports.

Connection

Organic Chemistry

Every reaction in biochemistry has an organic-chemistry mechanism underneath it.

Connection

Cell Biology

Metabolism happens in specific organelles — mitochondria, cytosol, ER — with specific regulation.

Connection

Molecular Biology

DNA replication, transcription, and translation are biochemistry from another angle.

Connection

Physiology

Every organ system has a distinctive metabolic profile.

Connection

MCAT

Biochemistry is the single largest content area across the MCAT.

Connection

Nutrition & Public Health

Modern nutrition science is applied metabolism.

Advanced STEM Library

Comprehensive Biochemistry Formula Sheet.

A single premium reference covering every formula, definition, and result the course expects — organized by unit, written by Mr. Sharma. The full sheet is being authored and will be published in the Advanced STEM Library.

Visit the Advanced STEM Library
Coming Soon

Biochemistry Formula & Reference Sheet

Every key formula, definition, theorem, and reference students need — organized by unit and cross-referenced to the topic tree above.

  • Amino Acids & Protein Structure
  • Enzymes & Kinetics
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids & Membranes
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Bioenergetics

Free Resources

A growing library of premium references.

Curated reference material for every Biochemistry student. Full guides are being written by Mr. Sharma and will appear in the Advanced STEM Library as they are published.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · Formula Sheet

Every equation — Michaelis-Menten, thermodynamics, kinetics — in one reference.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · Amino Acid Guide

Every amino acid, its properties, and its metabolic roles.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · Glycolysis & TCA Guide

The two central pathways with every step, enzyme, and regulatory point.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · Enzyme Kinetics Guide

Every inhibitor class with worked Lineweaver-Burk analysis.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · Metabolic Integration Guide

Fed / fasted, exercise, and disease-state metabolism walkthroughs.

Coming Soon
Resource

Biochemistry · MCAT Biochemistry Study Guide

A calibrated review plan for the biochemistry content on the MCAT.

How Mr. Sharma Teaches

A six-step path from first call to full mastery.

Every student follows the same disciplined arc — from an honest starting point to sustained fluency in the material.

  1. Step 01

    Initial Consultation

    A no-pressure conversation about goals, timeline, and current coursework.

  2. Step 02

    Diagnostic Assessment

    A focused diagnostic identifies exactly where each unit of the course stands.

  3. Step 03

    Personalized Learning Plan

    A written plan mapped to the student's timeline, coursework, and academic goals.

  4. Step 04

    Concept Mastery

    Underlying concepts are rebuilt where needed — every skill stands on real understanding.

  5. Step 05

    Guided Problem Solving

    One-on-one whiteboard instruction on every difficult problem type in the course.

  6. Step 06

    Assessment Preparation

    Targeted preparation for school assessments, standardized exams, and course finals.

Study Plans

Four premium tutoring timelines.

Each plan is a starting framework. Every student's actual schedule is customized after the diagnostic assessment.

4-Week

Intensive

Focused refinement for students already at a strong baseline heading into a major assessment.

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8-Week

Standard

Targeted work on the highest-impact units of the course plus consistent problem practice.

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12-Week

Comprehensive

Full concept review, unit-by-unit mastery, and periodic assessment checkpoints.

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Full Year

Mastery

The deepest preparation — foundations rebuilt, every unit mastered, ready for the next course in the sequence.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions families most often ask before beginning tutoring in this subject.

Ready to Begin

One-on-one biochemistry instruction with Mr. Sharma.

Book a free consultation to discuss your student's current coursework, goals, and timeline. Every plan is built from an honest starting point.

Begin

Start with a focused strategy conversation.

The strategy session is the first step of working together — a focused academic planning and diagnostic conversation used to understand the student before any ongoing academic support begins.

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