Learning objectives
Knowledge of the fundamental properties of the biological macromolecules, of the degradation and biosynthesis of the main classes of biomolecules, the knowledge of the the mechanisms of biological reaction and of their regulation, with particular attention to the application of the fundamentals of the chemistry (i.g. reversible reactions, redox potential, nucleophylic and electrophylic rections).
Course unit content
Properties of biomolecules: nucleotides and nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, aminoacids and proteins. Structure and function of proteins. Biological membranes. Enzyme catalysis and kinetics. Introduction to the metabolism: coenzymes, high energy bonds, redox potentials. Catabolism of glucose. Metabolism of glycogen. Gluconeogenesis. Tricarboxilic acids cicle and related rections. Electron transport, oxidative phosphorilation and respiratory control. Photosynthesis. Lipid metabolism: Fatty acids oxidation, keton bodies, fatty acids biosynthesi, cholesterol. Metabolim of aminoacids: transamination reactions, urea cycle, PLP-dependent reactions, shikimate pathway. Nucleotides metabolism: ex-novo purines and pyrimidine biosinthesis.
Methane biosynthesis
Bibliography
Voet, D and Voet, J.G. "Fundamentals of Biochemistry"
