Learning objectives
<br />The objective of the course is to provide the students with:<br />-the fundamental concepts of chemistry,including stoichiometry; a necessity to prepare<br />laboratory media and for the comprehension of analytical techniques;<br />- the basic knowledge of structure and function of the biological macromolecules.<br /><br />Moreover,the students,starting from the knowledge of DNA structure and<br />chemical composition,will learn the advanced techniques of modern molecular <br />biology applied in biotechnology and research.<br />
Course unit content
<br /><br />Molecular Biology<br />The bacterial cell: approach to the technology of recombinant DNA.<br />DNA, the primary genetic material.<br />The structure of DNA; genetic code and protein synthesis. Role of genes in cells. Notions of gene expression regulation.<br />Techniques of DNA analysis and manipulation.<br />Restriction enzymes, electrophoretic separation. Modification enzymes, in vitro reactions.<br /><br />Recombinant DNA and cloning strategies.<br />Cloning vectors; bacterial competence and transformation.<br />Hybridization techniques.<br />Probes and hybridization: a cDNA library. Northern and Southern Blotting techniques.<br />The Polymerase Chain Reaction.<br />PCR technology and applications. DNA sequencing.<br />Applications of recombinant DNA technology.<br />Procariotic expression vectors: pUC and pET plasmids. Few concepts of recombinant expression and protein engineering.<br /> <br />General and Inorganic Chemistry<br />Elements and compounds. Sub-atomic particles. Atomic number,mass number,isotopes.<br />Atomic structure. Electronic configuration of the elements.<br />Periodic table. Periodic trends in the chemical properties of the elements.<br />Chemical bonding: ionic bond; covalent bond (pure, polar,dative). Intermolecular bonding.<br />Atomic and molecular weight, gram atom, gram molecule;related exercises and stoichiometric calculations.<br />Inorganic chemical compounds:hydrurs, binary acids,oxides,anhydrides,peroxides,<br />hydroxides, acids,neutral and acidic salts; formation reactions,<br />reaction balancing,nomenclature.<br />Oxidation state and oxidation number; balancing ox-red reactions.<br />Chemical kinetics:rates of chemical reactions. The factors that affect<br />chemical reaction rate:chemical nature of the reactants,concentration<br />(order of a reaction), temperature and catalysts.<br />Chemical equilibrium:concept of dynamic equilibrium.<br />The general expression of the equilibrium constant.<br />Factors that affect the chemical equilibrium. Le Chatelier’s principle.<br />Chemical thermodynamics: concept of enthalpy, entropy, freeenergy.<br />Solutions. Concentrations units: percent fraction w/w andw/v, molarity, molality.<br />Preparation of solutions.<br />Colligative properties of solutions: boiling point elevation, freezing point<br />depression; osmosis, osmotic pressure and osmolarity.<br />Acids and bases.Acid-base equilibria.Water ionization.Concept of pH.<br />Calculating the pH of acid and base (strong and weak) solutions.<br />Buffer solutions:properties and pH calculation.<br /><br /><br /><br />Organic Chemistry<br />Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons: nomenclature, physical properties and characteristic reactions.<br />Alcohols: nomenclature, physical properties, characteristic reactions. Formation of ethers.<br />Aldehydes and ketones: nomenclature, physical properties,characteristic reactions. <br />Carboxylic acids: nomenclature, physical properties, characteristic reactions.<br />Esters: nomenclature, formation reaction, basic hydrolysis. Amides, anhydrides, acid halides: structure and nomenclature.<br />Amines: structure and nomenclature, basicity, characteristic reactions.<br />Stereoisomerism and optical activity: basic concepts.<br /><br /><br /><br />Propaedeutic Biochemistry<br />Lipids: fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids; structure and properties.<br />Aminoacids and proteins:general structure and classification of the<br />20 aminoacids that occur in proteins. Acid-base behaviour of aminoacids;<br />isoelectric point.Peptide bond.The different levels of protein structure:<br />primary,secondary,tertiary and quaternary.<br />Carbohydrates:structure and properties of the most important<br />monosaccharides (glucose,fructose),disaccharides<br />(maltose,lactose,saccarose) and polysaccharides. Chiral properties.<br />Nucleic acids:the sugar and the base components of nucleosides<br />and nucleotides. Nucleosides and nucleotides<br />Structure and fundamental properties of RNA and DNA.
Bibliography
<br />All the study materials and supporting web sites are provided by the teachers.
Teaching methods
<br />Frontal lectures (aided by presentations and animations files) and practicals.<br />Oral exam.
