Learning objectives
To describe the biopolymers of fundamental importance in biological systems: polisaccharides, peptides, nucleic acids, and their chemical features, their biological role and fundamentals about chemical synthesis of these molecules.
To acquire experience on the principal laboratory techniques for the purification and modification of organic compounds.
Prerequisites
General and Inorganic Chemistry
Course unit content
Bioorganic Chemistry
1-Amines and amino acids. acid-base properties and reactivity.
2-Peptides and proteins. Chemical structure, physical properties and reactivity. Introduction to peptide synthesis. Protecting groups.
3-Nucleosides and nucleotides. Structure, physical properties and reactivity. Introduction to DNA synthesis. Biological and biomedical use of nucleosides and nucleotides.
Practical part.
Tutorials: written exercises concerning fundamental concepts will be proposed, to help the students to practise with notations and tools of Organic Chemistry (structural formulae, resonance structures, conformation and stereochemical aspects); through the discussion of cases of increasing diffculty. The discussion of exercises will help to clarify, with examples, the topics exposed in the frontal module.
Laboratory Practice.
Introduction to the laboratori safety probelms; risks connected with the use of chemicals and parameters describing hazards and risks.
Practical experiences:
1) Liquid-liquid exctraction of a compound using acid-base aquilibria . Melting point determination. Qualitative anaysis using thin layer chromatography (TLC).
2)Puification of alcohols using distillation. Quantitative analysis of purity by gas-chromatography.
3) Structure and reactivity of carbohydrates. Mutarotation of glucose. Saccharose hydrolysis. Properties and hydrolysis of starch.
4) Synthesis of an ester.
The most common techniques for the separation and identification of organic compounds will be illustrated.
Full programme
http://biotecnologie.unipr.it/cgi-bin/campusnet/corsi.pl/Show?_id=4ecb;sort=DEFAULT;search={docente}%3d~%2f\brcorradini\b%2f;hits=4
Bibliography
Theory
• P.Y. Bruice “Chimica Organica” EdiSES (2005).
• J. McMurry “Chimica Organica” 7 Edizione. Piccin 2008.
• W.H. Brown – C.S.Foote – B.L.Iverson E.V. Anslyn “Chimica Organica” IV Edizione EdiSES (2009)
• K. Peter, C. Vollhardt, N.E. Schore “Chimica Organica” 3 Edizione. Zanichelli 2005.
Copies of the lectures available at the course web site.
Laboratory Practice
W.H. Brown, B. L. Iverson, S. A. Iverson: “Guida alla soluzione dei problemi di Chimica Organica” Edi Ses.
R.M. Roberts, J.C. Gilbert, S.F. Martin : " Chimica Organica Sperimentale" Zanichelli Editore .
Copies of the lectures available at the course web site.
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures and practical lLaboratory experiences.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination and written laboratory workbook
Other information
Course integrated with Organic Chemistry
