Learning objectives

This course aims to introduce the students to the comprehension of the biochemical processes essential for both cell and organism functions. The student will need to acquire the necessary knowledges to the under-standing to the chemical transformations, essential requirement for the study of the structure-function relation-ships of the biological macromolecules and of metabolism. This will be correlated to specific features of molecules and of metabolic pathways involved in physical exercise.

Program

Proteins. The amino acids. Peptide bond. Structural levels of proteins. Collagen. Keratin. Myoglobin and hemoglobin. Myosin and actin. Structure of thick and thin filaments. The antibodies.
Enzymes. Chemical reactions and reaction speed. Catalysis. Coenzymes: functional significance and relationship to water-soluble vitamins. Mechanism of action of enzymes. Enzyme kinetics.
Nucleotides. Structure and functions of nucleotides. Nucleic acids. Coenzymes. The adenylic nucleotides.
Carbohydrates. Monosaccharides. Natural oligosaccharides. Polysaccharides. Glycogen.
Metabolism. Equilibrium of reaction. Compounds with bonds to high energy content and accoppiate. Catabolism and anabolism.
Metabolismo carbohydrates. Digestion of carbohydrates. Glycolysis. Glycogenolysis, glycogen synthesis. Pentose phosphate pathway. Gluco (neo) genesis. Hormonal regulation of the Glucose level. Lactic and alcoholic fermentation of the piruvate. Krebs cycle. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Catabolism energy balance of glucides.
Lipids. The fatty acids. Essential fatty acids. The triglycerides. Lipid membrane phospholipids. Cholesterol. Digestion of fats. Lipids delivery. Lipoproteins. Lipid metabolism. Role of carnitine. Catabolism of fatty acids: in beta oxidation of fatty acids. Formation of ketone bodies: physiological significance and their effect on the acid-base. Catabolism energy balance of fatty acids.
Synthesis of fatty acids. FAS complex. Metabolism of cholesterol
Metabolism of proteins. Protein digestion. General amino acid catabolism. Transamination, deamination and decarboxylation reactions. Fate of the amino acid skeleton: glucogenic and ketogenic amino acids. Urea cycle.
Outline about the mechanisms of action. Muscle metabolism and interrelationships with other tissues. Myofibrillar proteins and regulatory proteins. muscle contraction. energy sources of the muscle cell. The function of phosphocreatine. aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. sources of energy during muscle activity. Muscle glycogen. Interrelations with the liver. The Cori cycle. The glucose-alanine cycle. energy needs of the neuron. Ketone bodies and muscle protein as energy sources.

Learning assessment procedures

A written test consisting of two parts:
1) 10 multiple choice questions (assessment of basic knowledge)
2) 3 open questions.
Test duration 60 '

Evaluation criteria

- 1.5 points for each multiple choice question (at least 7/10 correct answers are required)
- Up to 7 points for the first open question
- Up to 5 points for each of the subsequent open questions

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade is equivalent to the sum of the points obtained

Exam language

Italiano