Mastering Biochemistry for NEET-PG and INI-CET in Just 4 Days

Daily Targets

  • Read/Revise 3–4 hours.
  • Solve 120–150 MCQs (30 per block, timed) with an error log.
  • Make 4–6 mini‑cards/day (rate‑limiting enzymes, vitamin→coenzyme map, pathway one‑liners, hallmark disorders).

Day 1 — Foundations, Proteins/Enzymes, Vitamins/Minerals, pH & Buffers, Clinical Basics

Molecular foundations

  • Water, pH, buffers: Henderson–Hasselbalch intuition; bicarbonate/phosphate/protein buffers.
  • Biological membranes: fluid mosaic, transporters, channels; receptors & second messengers (cAMP, IP3/DAG, RTK, JAK‑STAT, nuclear receptors).
  • Free radicals & antioxidants: ROS sources (ETC, phagocytes); glutathione system; enzymatic/non‑enzymatic antioxidants.

Amino acids & proteins

  • Amino acid classes; essential vs non‑essential; glucogenic vs ketogenic.
  • Protein structure: primary→quaternary; bonds; denaturation vs digestion.
  • Collagen & elastin: synthesis steps (hydroxylation, glycosylation, triple helix, cross‑linking); scurvy/Ehlers‑Danlos basics.
  • Hemoglobin & myoglobin: Hb curves, 2,3‑DPG, fetal Hb shift; CO poisoning logic; methemoglobinemia concept.

Enzymes & kinetics

  • Michaelis–Menten; Km/Vmax; Lineweaver–Burk intuition.
  • Inhibition: competitive vs non‑competitive vs uncompetitive; allosteric regulation; feedback inhibition.
  • Isoenzymes & clinical enzymology: AST/ALT, ALP/GGT, CK (MB), LDH isoenzymes; patterns in hepatic, biliary, MI, skeletal muscle disease.

Vitamins & minerals (exam‑heavy)

  • Water‑soluble: B1 (TPP), B2 (FAD/FMN), B3 (NAD/NADP), B5 (CoA), B6 (PLP), B7 (biotin), B9 (THF), B12 (methylcobalamin/adenosylcobalamin), C.
  • Fat‑soluble: A, D, E, K — functions & deficiency states.
  • Coenzyme map: vitamin→cofactor and key reactions.
  • Minerals: iron (absorption, transferrin, ferritin, TIBC), copper (Wilson/Menkes ideas), zinc (acrodermatitis), iodine/thyroid basics, selenium (GPx), magnesium, fluoride.

Clinical biochemistry basics

  • Glucose tests: fasting, OGTT, HbA1c concept; hypoglycemia outline.
  • LFTs (bilirubin patterns, AST/ALT vs ALP/GGT), RFTs (BUN, creatinine), lipid profile.
  • Tumor markers (AFP, CEA, CA‑125, CA‑19‑9, PSA, β‑hCG) — recognition level.
  • Cardiac & pancreatic markers: troponin, CK‑MB; amylase/lipase.

Day‑1 MCQs focus

  • Buffer logic; enzyme inhibition types; vitamin‑deficiency one‑liners; iron/copper transport; LFT patterns; Hb curve shifts.

Day 2 — Carbohydrate Metabolism & Integrated Fuel Regulation

Core pathways

  • Glycolysis: steps, energy yield, regulation (hexokinase/glucokinase, PFK‑1, pyruvate kinase); aerobic vs anaerobic fate.
  • Pyruvate fates: alanine, lactate (Cori cycle), oxaloacetate (gluconeogenesis), acetyl‑CoA (PDH complex; lipoic acid).
  • TCA cycle: steps, key enzymes, amphibolic nature; anaplerotic reactions.
  • Oxidative phosphorylation: ETC complexes, ATP synthase; inhibitors (cyanide, CO, rotenone, oligomycin) & uncouplers (DNP, thermogenin).

Gluconeogenesis & glycogen metabolism

  • Gluconeogenesis: key bypasses (pyruvate carboxylase, PEPCK, F‑1,6‑bisphosphatase, G‑6‑phosphatase); substrates.
  • Glycogen metabolism: synthase vs phosphorylase; liver vs muscle regulation; glycogen storage diseases (I Von Gierke, II Pompe, III Cori, V McArdle — hallmark clues).

HMP shunt & polyol pathway

  • HMP (PPP): oxidative vs non‑oxidative; NADPH uses (GSH, FA synthesis); G6PD deficiency (hemolysis, Heinz bodies); WBC respiratory burst concept.
  • Polyol pathway: sorbitol accumulation (lens/nerve) in diabetes.

Fructose & galactose

  • Essential fructosuria vs hereditary fructose intolerance (aldolase B); galactokinase deficiency vs classic galactosemia (GALT) — cataracts, vomiting, liver issues.

Hormonal control & diabetes metabolism

  • Insulin & glucagon: receptor types; fed vs fasting state; glycogenolysis/gluconeogenesis switch.
  • Counter‑regulatory hormones: epinephrine, cortisol, GH.
  • Starvation timeline: glycogen depletion, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, ketogenesis; RQ concept.

Day‑2 MCQs focus

  • Rate‑limiting enzymes; PDH/ETC inhibitors; glycogenoses hallmarks; G6PD triggers; fructose/galactose disorders; fed→fasted adaptation.

Day 3 — Lipids & Amino Acids: Pathways, Transport, Key Disorders

Lipid metabolism

  • Fatty acid synthesis (ACC, FAS) vs β‑oxidation (carnitine shuttle, CPT‑I); MCAD deficiency.
  • Ketogenesis & ketolysis; DKA vs starvation ketones (concept level).
  • Cholesterol synthesis (HMG‑CoA reductase) & regulation; bile acids/salts; gallstone risk pointers (concept).
  • Lipoproteins: chylomicron, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL — functions; apolipoproteins (ApoA‑I, ApoB‑48/100, ApoC‑II, ApoE) and “E for remnant” idea.
  • Familial dyslipidemias (Type I hyperchylomicronemia, IIa familial hypercholesterolemia, III dysbetalipoproteinemia, IV hypertriglyceridemia) — signature labs & features.
  • Eicosanoids: arachidonic acid pathway, COX/LOX products — concise awareness.

Amino acid metabolism & nitrogen disposal

  • Transamination (ALT/AST), oxidative deamination (GDH), one‑carbon pool (THF), BH4 roles.
  • Urea cycle: steps, regulation; hyperammonemia; OTC deficiency vs urea cycle defects (orotic acid patterns concept).
  • Specialized pathways:
    • Phenylalanine/tyrosine: PKU (phenylalanine hydroxylase/BH4), alkaptonuria (HGD), albinism (tyrosinase), catecholamine synthesis basics.
    • Tryptophan: niacin synthesis; serotonin/melatonin; carcinoid syndrome.
    • Methionine/homocysteine: homocystinuria (CBS deficiency) vs related causes.
    • Branched‑chain AAs: MSUD basics (BCKD); thiamine role.
    • Heme synthesis: ALA synthase step; porphyrias (acute intermittent, porphyria cutanea tarda) hallmarks.
    • Bilirubin metabolism: unconjugated vs conjugated; neonatal jaundice concept; Crigler–Najjar, Gilbert, Dubin–Johnson, Rotor one‑liners.

Day‑3 MCQs focus

  • Lipoprotein functions & apo markers; familial dyslipidemia patterns; carnitine/CPT defects; urea cycle logic; PKU/MSUD/homocystinuria; porphyria cues; bilirubin disorders.

Day 4 — Nucleotides, Molecular Biology, Techniques, Clinical/Integrative Biochem

Nucleotide metabolism

  • Purine synthesis (PRPP amidotransferase), salvage (HGPRT; Lesch–Nyhan), degradation (xanthine oxidase → uric acid; gout concept).
  • Pyrimidine synthesis (CPS‑II, UMP synthase); orotic aciduria concept.
  • ADA deficiency → SCID concept; thymidylate synthase & DHFR roles.

DNA/RNA & gene expression

  • DNA replication: polymerases, primase, ligase, topoisomerases; leading/lagging; telomerase; inhibitors (fluoroquinolones on topo II in bacteria/related, methotrexate on DHFR at nucleotide level; high‑level awareness only).
  • DNA repair: mismatch, base‑excision, nucleotide‑excision, non‑homologous end joining — hallmark disease links.
  • Transcription: RNA pol I/II/III roles; splicing; mRNA processing (cap, poly‑A, intron removal).
  • Translation: ribosomes, tRNA charging, initiation/elongation/termination; antibiotics that block steps (concept list).
  • Epigenetics: methylation, acetylation; genomic imprinting basics; mitochondrial inheritance snapshot.

Lab techniques (must‑know)

  • Blotting: Southern (DNA), Northern (RNA), Western (protein), South‑western (DNA‑binding proteins).
  • PCR/RT‑PCR/qPCR; Sanger vs NGS (one‑liner awareness); microarrays (concept); CRISPR idea.
  • Electrophoresis, chromatography, mass spectrometry basics.
  • ELISA, RIA; immunofixation; flow cytometry concept.

Clinical & integrative biochemistry

  • Liver function test patterns; cholestasis vs hepatocellular.
  • Pancreas: amylase/lipase; malabsorption fat tests (concept level).
  • Thyroid function tests (T3/T4/TSH patterns); adrenal test snapshots (cortisol/ACTH concepts).
  • Cardiac markers timeline; DKA vs HHS biochemical differences (concept); lactate in sepsis.
  • Inborn errors overview approach: suspect, screen, confirm; newborn screening idea.
  • Nutrition & metabolism integration: fed/fasting/starvation; exercise; pregnancy & lactation basics.

Day‑4 MCQs focus

  • Purine/pyrimidine rate‑limiters; Lesch–Nyhan & ADA deficiency; DNA repair disorders; blotting matches; ELISA vs Western; LFT/thyroid patterns; DKA biochemistry.

Rapid Revision (Last Evening)

  • Rate‑limiting enzymes: glycolysis (PFK‑1), gluconeogenesis (F‑1,6‑BPase), TCA (isocitrate dehydrogenase), glycogen synthesis (glycogen synthase), glycogenolysis (glycogen phosphorylase), HMP (G6PD), FA synthesis (ACC), β‑oxidation (CPT‑I), cholesterol synth (HMG‑CoA reductase), urea cycle (CPS‑I), heme synth (ALA synthase), purines (PRPP amidotransferase), pyrimidines (CPS‑II).
  • Vitamin→coenzyme map: B1/TPP (PDH, α‑KG DH), B2/FAD-FMN, B3/NAD-NADP, B5/CoA, B6/PLP (transamination, decarboxylation), B7/biotin (carboxylations), B9/THF (1‑C transfer), B12 (methylmalonyl‑CoA→succinyl‑CoA), C (hydroxylation of proline/lysine, iron absorption).
  • Apolipoproteins: A‑I (LCAT), B‑48 (chylomicron assembly), B‑100 (VLDL/LDL), C‑II (LPL activator), E (remnant uptake).
  • Metabolic one‑liners: G6PD—hemolysis with oxidant stress; MCAD—hypoketotic hypoglycemia; OTC—hyperammonemia + orotic acid; PKU—musty odor; MSUD—maple syrup urine; Homocystinuria—downward lens, thrombi.
  • ETC inhibitors/uncouplers and DNA repair types with path examples.

Practice Pattern (all days)

  • Timed MCQ blocks → immediate review → write one rule learned from each error.
  • Vignette flow: identify pathway/defect → pick rate‑limiting enzyme/cofactor → predict lab pattern/clinical clue → first step.
  • Mini‑cards to carry: rate‑limiters, vitamin map, apo proteins, glycogenoses, urea cycle, AA disorders, ETC inhibitors, blotting/PCR matches.
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