Learning objectives
This course will provide essential information on atomic structure to define chemical properties. Inorganic and organic molecules, including biological macromolecules
Prerequisites
Conoscenza dei seguenti argomenti:
La costituzione della materia, elementi e composti. Le particelle fondamentali dell’atomo. Numero atomico e numero di massa. Peso atomico e peso molecolare. Isotopi. Ioni: cationi ed anioni.
La tavola periodica e la configurazione elettronica degli elementi di interesse biologico.
Elettronegatività e legame chimico: legame ionico e legame covalente. Polarità delle molecole. Valenza e numero di ossidazione.
Fondamenti di chimica inorganica: formule e nomi dei composti inorganici più comuni.
Il principio di conservazione della massa e della carica: bilanciamento di semplici reazioni chimiche (salificazione e ossido-riduzione). Concetto di mole, conversione da grammi a moli e viceversa, calcoli stechiometrici elementari. Le soluzioni: che cosa è una soluzione; principali modi di esprimere la concentrazione delle soluzioni.
Course unit content
The first part of the course will serve: a) to assess the level of knowledge of the prerequisites concepts; b) to give a general overview of the topics that will be covered and the logical thread in which they will be presented.
In the second part we will discuss topics that relate to understanding the origin of the three-dimensional structure and reactivity of molecules. Special attention will be devoted to acid-base and redox reactions
The third part will deal with the structural and chemical properties of major macromolecules present in a cell and then discuss some of the main metabolic processes responsible for the production of energy needed to keep the cell alive.
Full programme
- Water: chemical and physical properties of water. Water as a solvent: Weak interactions in aqueous systems. Dipoles and interactions between different molecules. The hydrogen bonding. Osmosis. Ionization of water. Acids, and bases. The pH. The buffer solutions and their function / biological significance.
- Chemistry of carbon. Hydrocarbons and functional groups relevant to biochemistry. Structural formulas of organic molecules and nomenclature. The isomerism of organic molecules. Notes on homocyclic and heterocyclic compounds and aromatic compounds.
- Reactions of functional groups relevant to biochemistry.
- Biological macromolecules:
1) Amino acids, peptide bond, and proteins. Notes on the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Structure-function relationships: myoglobin and hemoglobin. Enzymes, elements of coenzymes and cofactors.
2) simple and complex carbohydrates.
3) Lipids: triglycerides and phospholipids.
- Cellular Metabolism
1)ATP as energy exchanger.
2)Cellular respiration and metabolism of carbohydrates.
3)Notes on the metabolism of triglycerides and amino acids.
Bibliography
ntroduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger
David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox
Zanichelli
Modulo di Chimica e Biochimica: Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia Applicata
Massimo Stefani e Niccolò Taddei
Zanichelli
Teaching methods
Lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
written and oral exam
Other information
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