Learning outcomes

The course will consider the knowledge of the biochemical processes implicated in muscle cell functioning in a vision that integrates the entire organism. The student will learn to correlate the thermodynamic and kinetic features of the biochemical reactions belonging to the metabolism, including their enzymatic regulation, with the physiological responses to exercise in the absence or presence of training.

Program

Kinetic structure of the biochemical pathways: principles of the metabolic control of enzymes involved in the production of energy during physical exercise; equilibrium reactions and non equilibrium reactions, flux generating reactions, direction of a metabolic pathway; enzymes catalyzing flux generating reactions, the lactate dehydrogenase as an example.
Metabolic activity of the skeletal muscle: aerobic metabolism, alactic and lactic metabolism during the physical exercise; phosphocreatine and lactate; Cori Cycle; the cycle of purine nucleotides; the glucose-alanine cycle.
Lactate: the revolution on lactate knowledge.
Metabolism of carbohydrates: the effects on exercise and training in skeletal muscle.
Metabolism of amino-acids and proteins: the effects on exercise and training in skeletal muscle.
Metabolism of lipids: the effects on exercise and training in skeletal muscle.

Examination Methods

The exam consists of an interview aimed at assessing the student's ability to use biochemical knowledge for the molecular interpretation of physiology of physical exercise.