The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

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MM: CHEMISTRY
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The Chemistry course provide knowledge of the main notions of General and Organic Chemistry. The scientific method is strongly underlined to explain also phenomenon possibly applied in the laboratories. Further attention is spent for notions preparatory for the study of the Biochemistry.
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MM: BIOCHEMISTRY
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Basic knowledge of the structure and function of the most important biological macromolecules and of the metabolic pathways. Highlight the connections between different metabolic processes as well as the associated bioenergetics changes.

Program

CHEMISTRY
Matter: aggregation states, energy, intensive and extensive properties.
Atom: atomic theory, atomic weight. Inside the atom: protons, neutrons, electrons. Orbital wave function. Quantum numbers and periodic properties. Connection between micro- and macroscopic levels: the mole.
Chemical bond: ionic, covalent, weak bonds: hydrogen bond and hints of hydrophobic interactions. The ‘noble gas’ or octet rule.
States of the matter: The law of ideal gases; real gases; vapour pressure; liquids and solutions; hints of solids.
Chemical reactions: syntheses, swapping; acid-base and pH, redox reactions; examples of biochemistry redox reactions.
Chemical equilibrium: in aqueous solution or not; the amphoteric nature of water. Connection between Keq and G.
Thermodynamics and kinetics: principles of thermodynamics and spontaneous, or not, reactions. Kinetic theory of collisions, activation energy and catalysis.
Organic chemistry: the chemistry of carbon; hybridation of the carbon orbitals; stereochemistry; structure, nomenclature, functional groups of the oxygenated organic compounds, and reactivity of them. Aromatic compounds: structure and reactions. Nitrogen compounds and and most important reactions.

BIOCHEMISTRY
1. Constitutive elements of the living matter: polymeric structure of the biological macromolecules.
2. Protein structure and function: aminoacid classification, buffering power, peptide bond, levels of protein structure; fibrous and globular proteins; hemoglobin and myoglobin: structure, function, factors influencing the oxygen bond; hemoglobin variants; enzymes: classification, role in the chemical reactions, regulation of the enzymatic activity.
3. Vitamins: hydro- and lypo-soluble vitamins; co-enzymes.
4. Bio-energetics: metabolism; chemical transformations in the cell; spontaneous and non-spontaneous reactions of the metabolic reactions; ATP as “energy exchange coin”; biologically relevant redox reactions.
5. Carbohydrates structure and metabolism: mono- and disaccharides; polysaccharides; glycoconjugates; glycolysis and its regulation; gluconeogenesis; hints of the penthose phosphate pathway; synthesis of the glycogen.
6. Citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation: mitochondria; acetyl-CoA synthesis; citric acid cycle control; respiratory chain and electron transport; ATP synthesis.
7. Lipids structure and metabolism: structural lipids and biological membranes; cholesterol; stock-reserve lipids; lipids digestion and fatty acid β-oxydation; keton bodies formation; hints of fatty acids biosynthesis.
8. Aminoacid metabolism: hints of gluco- and keto-forming aminoacids; transamination and oxidative deamination; the urea cycle.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

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MM: CHIMICA E PROPEDEUTICA BIOCHIMICA
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Multiple choice preliminary tests to deal with an oral examination.
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MM: BIOCHIMICA
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Multiple choice preliminary tests to deal with an oral examination