Teaching code

4S001359

Teacher

Ilaria Dando

Credits

2

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY

Period

1 SEMESTRE PROFESSIONI SANITARIE dal Oct 3, 2022 al Dec 23, 2022.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

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

Program

- Building blocks of general and organic chemistry: the carbon atom; electronic configuration; organic compounds nomenclature and functional groups.
- Protein structure and function: structure and physico-chemical properties of amino acids; peptide bond; protein structure levels; fibrous proteins; globular proteins; hemoglobin and myoglobin; actin; myosin.
- Enzymes: classification; activation rate; coenzymes and cofactors; water-soluble vitamins; regulation of enzymatic activity.
- Nucleic acids: basic notions of their structural functions; their role as energy carriers, as components of enzymatic cofactors, and as chemical messengers.
- Introduction to metabolism: anabolism and catabolism; ATP; redox coenzymes (NAD and FAD); chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier principle; equilibrium constant; Gibbs free energy; exo- and endo-ergonic reactions; equilibria and spontaneity of reactions; metabolic pathways; metabolic intermediates; metabolism regulation.
- Carbohydrates: monosaccharides; disaccharides; polysaccharides; glycogen; starch; cellulose; glycosaminoglycans; proteoglycans and glycoproteins.
- Carbohydrate metabolism: glycolysis and its regulation; alcoholic fermentation; lactic fermentation; phosphate pentose pathway; gluconeogenesis; glycogenosynthesis; glycogenolysis; hormonal regulation (glucagon, insulin and adrenaline); Cori cycle.
- Citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation: regulation of the citric acid cycle; electron transport chain; oxidative phosphorylation.
- Lipids: reserve lipids; structural membrane lipids; cholesterol; lipids as signals and cofactors.
- Lipid metabolism: lipid biosynthesis; fatty-acid synthase; cholesterol metabolism; beta-oxidation of fatty acids; chetonic bodies.
- Amino acid metabolism: metabolic fate of amino groups; urea cycle; glucose-alanine cycle; transamination.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The teacher will carry out lectures.

Learning assessment procedures

In order to pass the final exam, students shall demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the basic concepts of biochemistry, from biological macromolecules to metabolic transformations.
The exam consists of a written test based on the didactic contents of the whole course and will be structured as follows:
- 15 multiple choice questions - each correct answer is worth 1 point;
- 3 open questions, to be briefly answered in a limited space and in a complete and concise way - each open answer is worth 5 points.
The duration of the exam will be 60 minutes.

Evaluation criteria

To pass the exam, the students must demonstrate that they have fully achieved the intended learning objectives. The test will specifically evaluate: 1) the deepening of specific knowledge; 2) the ability to make connections between the various topics covered; 3) the property of scientific language. The final mark will be expressed out of thirty and will be given by the sum of the points obtained in all the questions. The exam of the Biochemistry module is considered passed if the evaluation is greater than or equal to 18.

Exam language

Italiano