Learning objectives
On the basis of the electronic structure of the atom, to rationalize the properties of pure substance, either the inorganic/organic compounds and the biological macromolecules.
Delineate structure, function and interrelationship of various biomolecules. Summarise the fundamental aspects of enzymology. Integrate the various aspects of metabolism and their regulatory pathways.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Chemistry foundations. Atomic structure. Chemical Bonding. Solutions.
Chemical reactions and kinetics.
Enzymes, coenzymes and biological red-ox reactions.
Chemical equilibrium.
Foundations of Organic Chemistry.
Molecules of biological systems: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and
Nucleic Acids.
ATP, the energy currency of cellular metabolism. Thermodynamics of biological reactions.
Bioenergetics and metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation.
Overview of protein structure. Reversible binding of a protein to a ligand: Oxygen-Binding proteins. Enzymes.
Hormonal regulation and integration of metabolism
Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway.
Gluconeogenesis. Metabolism of Glycogen, The Citric Acid Cycle.
Lipid Metabolism, amminoacid oxidation and production of urea.
Full programme
GENERAL AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, PROPEDEUTIC BIOCHEMISTRY
Chemistry foundations: Physical and chemical transformations. Mixtures, elements and compounds. Atomic structure: energy levels, valence electrons and Lewis structure.
Chemical Bonding: Pure and polar covalent bond. Electronegativity. Ionic bond. Form and polarity of the molecules of water, ammonia and methane. Intermolecular forces, hydrogen bond.
Solutions: Definitions of solvent, solute and solubility. Water as a polar solvent. Osmotic pressure.
Foundations of Organic Chemistry: main functional groups.
Molecules of biological systems: Biological function of water molecule.
Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and omopolysaccharides. Lipids: fatty acids, lipids, complex lipids and steroids. Proteins: aminoacids and peptide bond. Nucleic Acids: nucleotides and phosphodiesteric bond. DNA and RNA structures.
GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY
Bioenergetics and metabolism
Bioenergetics and thermodynamics. Phosphoryl group transfers and ATP. Biological oxidation-reduction reactions.
Oxidative phosphorylation
Electron-transfer reactions in mitochondria. ATP synthesis. Regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.
The three-dimensional structure of proteins Overview of protein structure. Protein secondary structure. Protein tertiary and quaternary structures.
Protein Function
Reversible binding of a protein to a ligand: Oxygen-Binding proteins.
Enzymes
An introduction to enzymes. How enzymes work. Co-enzymes and vitamins. Enzyme kinetics. Regulatory enzymes.
METABOLIC BIOCHEMISTRY
Hormonal regulation and integration of metabolism
Tissue-specific metabolism. Hormonal Regulation of metabolism.
Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway
Glycolysis. Feeder pathways for glycolysis. Fates of pyruvate under anaerobic conditions: fermentation. Gluconeogenesis and its regulation. Pentose phosphate pathway of glucose oxidation. Coordinated regulation of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis.
The Metabolism of Glycogen
Reactions and coordinated Regulation of Glycogen Synthesis and Breakdown.
The Citric Acid Cycle
Production of Acetyl-CoA. Reactions of the Citric Acid Cycle and regulation.
Lipid Metabolism
Digestion, mobilization, and transport of fats. Oxidation of fatty acids. Ketone bodies. Biosynthesis of fatty acids. Reactions and regulation.
Amino Acid Oxidation and the Production of Urea
Metabolic Fates of Amino Groups. Nitrogen Excretion and the Urea Cycle.
Pathways of Amino Acid Degradation.
Bibliography
La chimica in moduli (A-H),
di Valitutti, Tifi, Gentile
Editore: Zanichelli
Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehninger
di David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox
Editore: Zanichelli
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons aided by presentations and animations files.
Assessment methods and criteria
Chemistry and Prop. Biochemistry: written test
Biochemistry: oral exam
Other information
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