Teaching code

4S000967

Teacher

Elena Butturini

Coordinator

Elena Butturini

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY

Period

2° semestre triennio dal Mar 3, 2025 al Jun 6, 2025.

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

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.

Prerequisites and basic notions

General chemistry and organic chemistry elements

Program

Proteins. The amino acids. Peptide bond. Structural levels of proteins. Fibrous (collagen and keratin) and globular proteins (myoglobin and hemoglobin). Myosin and actin. Thick and thin filament structure. The antibodies. Enzymes. Chemical reactions and reaction rates. Difference between chemical and enzymatic catalysis. Coenzymes: functional significance and relationship with water-soluble vitamins. Mechanism of action of enzymes. Outline of enzymatic kinetics. Nucleotides. Structure and functions of nucleotides. Nucleic acids. Coenzymes. The adenyl nucleotides. Carbohydrates. Monosaccharides. Natural oligosaccharides. Polysaccharides. Glycogen. Introduction to metabolism, reaction equilibrium, compounds with high energy content bonds and coupled reactions, catabolism and anabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism. Digestion of carbohydrates. Glucose Introduction to the possible fate of glucose-6 phosphate. Glycolysis. Glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis. Pentose phosphate pathway, NADPH and oxidative stress control. Gluconeogenesis. Hormonal regulation of the blood glucose level. Fates of pyruvate. Lactic and alcoholic fermentation. Krebs cycle. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Energy balance of glucose oxidation. Lipids. Fatty acids. Essential fatty acids. Triglycerides. Membrane lipids: phospholipids. Cholesterol. Digestion of lipids. Transport of lipids. Lipoproteins. Lipid metabolism. Mobilization of triglycerides, role of carnitine. Beta oxidation of fatty acids. Formation of ketone bodies: physiological significance and their effects on acid-base balance. Energy balance of lipid catabolism. Biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS complex. Comparison of biosynthesis and beta oxidation of fatty acids. Cholesterol metabolism. Protein metabolism. Protein digestion. General catabolism of amino acids. Transamination, oxidative deamination and decarboxylation. Fate of the amino acid skeleton: glucogenic and ketogenic amino acids. Urea cycle. Food, human nutrition and muscle metabolism. Interrelationships with other tissues. The function of phosphocreatine. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Glucose-alanine cycle. Cori cycle. Energy sources during muscle activity. Muscle glycogen. Interrelationships with the liver. Energy needs of the neuron. Ketone bodies and muscle proteins as energy sources.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The teacher will provide power point presentations to supplement the classroom lessons, usable on the Moodle platform. During the Academic Year, students may request personal reception to the teacher by email.

Learning assessment procedures

Written and composed of:
- 20 multiple choice questions (1 correct one)
- 1 open questions of metabolic mechanism
- 2 open questions

Evaluation criteria

correctness, clarity, rigor and argumentative logic

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

- 1 points for each multiple choice question
- Up to 6 points for the metabolic mechanism
- Up to 6 points for each of the open questions

Exam language

Italiano