BIOCHEMISTRY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2021/2022
- Teacher
- GIORDANA FERIOTTO
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/10
Training objectives
- The aim of the course consists in knowledge of the chemical nature and structure of the living matter constituents, of the transformations of the biomolecules and of the energy variations associated with them; understanding the relationship between structure and function of macromolecules and the study of the mechanisms of regulation of biological processes.
Knowledge and understanding.
The student will learn the complex structure of the macromolecules, the basic elements of enzymatic catalysis, the main metabolic pathways and their interconnections. Prerequisites
- No formal propedeuticity is required.
Course programme
- IN THE FIRST PART OF THE COURSE (18 hours), the topics of protein structure and the relationship between protein structure and corresponding biological function will be developed, with particular attention to oxygen transport and enzymatic catalysis.
Topics in detail.
Introduction: cell, biomolecules, covalent and non-covalent bonds, functional groups, conformation and configuration, aqueous solvent.
Structure and classification of amino acids; the peptide bond.
Proteins: winding and structural levels.
Protein structure-function relationship: fibrous proteins (alpha-keratin, collagen and fibroin silk and elastin fibers); globular proteins (myoglobin and hemoglobin, functions, saturation curves, and regulation of oxygen hemoglobin affinity).
Enzymes: general characteristics; activation energy and reaction rate; general concepts of enzymatic kinetics. Regulatory mechanisms: competitive and non-competitive inhibitors; allosteric enzymes and enzymes regulated by covalent modifications. Chimotrypsin catalytic strategies.
IN THE SECOND PART OF THE COURSE (10 hours), the structure / function of other macromolecules (carbohydrates, nucleotides, lipids) will be examined and the organization of biological membranes with their functions, passive and active transmembrane transport, biosignal reporting.
IN THE THIRD PART OF THE COURSE (about 20 hours), the principles of bioenergetics and the main metabolic pathways and the strategies of their regulation will be examined.
Topics in detail.
Principles of bioenergy. The transfer of phosphate groups. The structure and function of the ATP. Electron conveyors (NADH, NADPH and FADH2). Coenzyme A.
Glycolysis: phases and regulation. Gluconeogenesis. Allosteric and hormonal regulation. General concepts on the pentose phosphate pathway.
Glycogen: degradation, synthesis and coordinated regulation.
Piruvate fate in aerobic conditions: Acetyl-CoA synthesis. Lactic fermentation. Notes on alcoholic fermentation.
Citric acid cycle: functions, energy balance and regulation.
Degradation of lipids: mobilization and transport of fatty acids. Oxidation of fatty acids. Notes to the Ketone Bodies.
Amino acids catabolism. Urea Cycle.
Oxidative phosphorylation: electron transport chain and ATP synthesis.
Fatty acid biosynthesis: acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase. Integrated regulation of biosynthesis and oxidation of fatty acids.
Metabolic interrelationships between the organs; fast-feeding cycle. Didactic methods
- The course consists of classroom lectures for 48 hours (6 CFU) of teaching overall. Classes take place through the use of slides including the classic blackboard. The last hours of the course are devoted to the revision of the main topics of the program. The slides projected during the lessons and the self-recordings of the lessons will be made available to students.
Learning assessment procedures
- The examination allows to ensure the achievement of objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding of the topics. The assessment is expressed in thirtieths (minimum grade 18).
Oral examination of about 15 minutes, in which the student will have to answer 6 questions on program issues. It is not passed the exam if the following arguments are insufficient: amino acids, peptide bond, allosteric mechanisms and reversible covalent modification of proteins.
Remote examination for Covid emergency. The teaching sheet will be updated in real time in case of changes due to the pandemic situation. Reference texts
- The book "I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger" di Nelson-Cox, Zanichelli.
Schemes, figures and movies provided by the teacher.
