Teaching code

4S000089

Teacher

Massimo Donadelli

Credits

2

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY

Period

INF VR - 1° anno 1° sem dal Oct 1, 2019 al Dec 20, 2019.

Location

VERONA

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Learning outcomes

During the Course are furnished:
-Basic knowledge of organic chemistry preparatory for biochemistry.
-Structure-function relationships of the most important biological macromolecules and of the metabolic regulation at the molecular level.
-Cross-talk between the different biochemical pathways and the energy level changes associated.
At the end of the Course the student should demonstrate to have acquired the proper scientific terms and notions in order to critically and autonomously evaluate the biochemical processes of life.

Program

- Organic chemistry: nomenclature of organic compounds and recognition of functional groups.
- Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycogen, starch, cellulose, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans and glycoproteins.
- Proteins: amino acids, protein structure levels, peptide bond, alpha-helix, beta-sheet, globular protein, myoglobin and hemoglobin, allosteric regulation.
- Enzymes: Classification of enzymes, active site, specificity and isoenzymes, cofactors and coenzymes, vitamins, regulation of enzyme activity, allosteric enzymes.
- Lipids: lipids and their functions, acylglycerols fatty acids, phospholipids, terpenes, steroids, cholesterol, fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins.
- Introduction to metabolism: catabolism and anabolism, ATP and phosphocreatine, coenzymes redox (NAD+ and FAD), redox reactions, metabolic pathways, metabolic intermediates, regulating metabolism, coupled reactions, signs of genetic defects of metabolism.
- Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis and its regulation, pentose phosphate pathway, alcoholic and lactic fermentation, synthesis of acetyl-coenzyme A, oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, Krebs cycle and its regulation, gluconeogenesis and its regulation, Cori cycle, glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis, hormone regulation (glucagon, insulin and adrenaline), diabetes mellitus.
- Oxidative phosphorylation: mitochondrial respiratory chain, standard reduction potential, electron transport and proton pumps, mitochondrial ATP synthase.
- Lipid metabolism: beta-oxidation of fatty acids, ketones, lipid biosynthesis, acid synthase-fat, cholesterol metabolism.
- Metabolism of proteins and amino acids: transamination, glucose-alanine cycle, urea cycle, biosynthesis of amino acids, branched chain amino acids.

The frontal teaching is the method adopted in this Course.

Examination Methods

To overcome the module of Biochemistry, students must demonstrate that they have understood the basic concepts of biochemistry, biological macromolecules and metabolic transformations. The exam consists of a written test with 15 multiple choice questions and 3 open questions, to be briefly answered in a limited space, covering the didactic content throughout the course. The final score will be expressed in thirty's (/30) and the module of Biochemistry will be passed if the overall assessment of the integrated course is greater than or equal to 18/30.