Teaching code

4S00103

Teacher

Marta Vittoria Menegazzi

Coordinator

Marta Vittoria Menegazzi

Credits

7

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY

Period

2°ANNO I° SEMESTRE dal Oct 1, 2022 al Dec 23, 2022.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The Biochemistry course aims at understanding the molecular bases of the functioning of biological systems and the structure-function relationships of macromolecules, either under physiological conditions or in some pathologies. The course also aims to raise the knowledge of the main metabolic pathways and their regulation at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. This will be possible by integrating chemical, physiological and pathological aspects of the human biochemistry in order to provide students with the biochemical knowledges useful for dental practice.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Overcoming the minimum knowledge in chemistry

Program

Structure and classification of amino acids. Structure of the peptide bond. Secondary structures (alpha helix, beta sheet, triple helix of collagen). Tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins. Structure and function of fibrous proteins: alpha keratin, actin-myosin, elastin. Structure and function of proteins that bind the oxygen, saturation curve of hemoglobin for oxygen, cooperative effect, Bohr effect, 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate, pathological hemoglobins. Enzymes: examples of enzyme catalysis. Enzyme kinetics, maximum speed, Michaelis constant. Enzyme inhibition: competitive, non-competitive, allosteric. Regulation of enzyme activity by phosphorylation. Vitamins and co-enzymes.
Introduction to metabolism. Electron transport chain, theory chemo-osmotic, oxidative phosphorylation by rotational catalysis.
Digestion of carbohydrates, glycolysis, energy balance and its regulation, lactic fermentation. Gluconeogenesis, glycogen synthesis and glycogen lysis. Hormonal regulation of blood sugar. Pentose phosphate pathway.
Oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, the citric acid cycle and its regulation.
Catabolism of ethanol and its effects on hepatic metabolism. Cycle nutrition / fasting, metabolic dis-regulation in some human diseases.
Digestion of lipids, transport of lipids in the blood, lipoproteins.
Cytosolic activation of fatty acids, carnitine transport into mitochondria.
Beta oxidation of fatty acids. Ketogenesis, fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism.
Digestion of proteins. Amino acids metabolism: transfer, transport and deletion of the amino group, urea cycle. Catecholamine synthesis.
Nucleic acids, structure of DNA and RNA, DNA replication in eukaryotes, transcription.
Protein synthesis Regulation of gene expression and signal transduction.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Face-to-face lessons with registration on Panopto

Learning assessment procedures

During the lecture period there are two ongoing tests in written form with open questions: the first at the beginning of November concerning propaedeutics and the structure and function of biological macromolecules, the second towards December 20 concerning the metabolism including, in addition to to other questions, the detailed description with chemical formulas of a particular metabolic pathway. Passing the first part will give the right to access the second part. The mark will derive from the arithmetic mean of the marks of the two ongoing tests. For those who have not passed the ongoing exam, in the normal sessions the exam will consist of a written part concerning the description of a metabolic pathway using formulas and the oral discussion on topics concerning the entire program.
Module 1: biochemical preparations
Module 2: metabolic cycles
Module 3: cell signaling

Evaluation criteria

Correct and detailed answer on at least half plus one of the questions. Knowing how to correctly write the formulas of the main metabolic cycles

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

in the thirtieth

Exam language

Italiano