Learning objectives
The student is asked to understand and learn the content of the course. Attendance to lessons, which is mandatory, will allow the student to acquire skills appropriate to describe, communicate effectively, use independence of judgment and comment features, functions, structure and the metabolic role of the main bio-molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes and co-enzymes, water and fat soluble vitamins); the mechanisms of metabolic energy production, energetic and structural homeostasis of living cells; structure and function of eukaryotic genes, replication of DNA, gene expression, DNA repair.
Prerequisites
To be eligible for Human Biochemistry exam, at the end of the second year of the course, students must have passed the following examinations:
1) Chimica e Propedeutica Biochimica
2) Istologia
Course unit content
Proteins: structure and functions. Myoglobin, hemoglobin and oxygen transport. Heme metabolism. Iron metabolism. Enzymes and enzyme kinetics. Cofactors and coenzymes used in metabolic reactions. Vitamins: origin, structure, mechanism of action. Calcium metabolism and bone. Coagulation proteins and the mechanisms of blood coagulation. Bioenergetics and biological oxidation. ATP, structure and functions. Reducing power, oxidative phosphorylation, the role of oxygen metabolism.
Molecular basis of genetic information and biotechnological applications will be addressed, with particular regard to biomedicine.
Molecular basis of genetic information. Composition and structure of nucleic acids. Structure and function of eukaryotic gene. DNA replication. DNA repair. Mechanisms of gene expression in correlation with human disease, cell aging and cancer. Types of RNA: structure and functions. Genetic code and its properties. Mechanisms and regulation of transcription. Protein synthesis and its regulation. Regulation of gene expression and fate of post-synthetic proteins. Control of proliferation. Apoptosis. Differentiation. Molecular biology techniques: cloning, DNA sequencing, restriction enzymes and restriction maps, transgenes and transgenic organisms. Recombinant DNA technology in forensic medicine.
Full programme
Proteins: structure and functions. Myoglobin, hemoglobin and oxygen transport. Heme metabolism. Iron metabolism. Enzymes and enzyme kinetics. Cofactors and coenzymes used in metabolic reactions. Vitamins: origin, structure, mechanism of action. Calcium metabolism and bone. Coagulation proteins and the mechanisms of blood coagulation. Bioenergetics and biological oxidation. ATP, structure and functions. Reducing power, oxidative phosphorylation, the role of oxygen metabolism.
Molecular basis of genetic information and biotechnological applications will be addressed, with particular regard to biomedicine.
Molecular basis of genetic information. Composition and structure of nucleic acids. Structure and function of eukaryotic gene. DNA replication. DNA repair. Mechanisms of gene expression in correlation with human disease, cell aging and cancer. Types of RNA: structure and functions. Genetic code and its properties. Mechanisms and regulation of transcription. Protein synthesis and its regulation. Regulation of gene expression and fate of post-synthetic proteins. Control of proliferation. Apoptosis. Differentiation. Molecular biology techniques: cloning, DNA sequencing, restriction enzymes and restriction maps, transgenes and transgenic organisms. Recombinant DNA technology in forensic medicine.
Bibliography
Nelson DL, Cox MM: I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, Zanichelli, Bologna.
Lewin, Krebs, Goldstein, Kilpatrick: Il gene. Zanichelli, Bologna.
Amaldi, Benedetti, Pesole, Plevani: Biologia Molecolare. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
Lieberman, Marks: Biochimica Medica, un approccio clinico. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
Baynes JW, Dominiczak MH: Biochimica per le discipline biomediche, Elsevier Mosby, Philadelphia.
Caldarera CM: Biochimica Sistematica Umana, CLUEB, Bologna.
Devlin TM: Biochimica con aspetti clinici. Wiley-Liss, New York.
Garrett RH, Grisham CM: Biochimica. Piccin, Padova.
Mathews CK, van Holde KE, Ahern KG: Biochimica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
Murray RK, Granner DK, Mayes PA, Rodwell VW; Harper Biochimica, McGraw-Hill Libri Italia srl, Milano.
Siliprandi, Tettamanti: Biochimica Medica, Piccin. Padova.
Voet D, Voet JG: Biochimica John Wiley & Sons, USA.
Teaching methods
The course will be held with oral lectures and seminars to deep single issues, and will make use of multimedia systems. During the lessons, students will have the opportunity to discuss the key aspects of the course. Teachers will be available throughout the duration of the course to answer questions and support students during their training with individual meetings by appointment.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final examination of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , at the end of the first year of the course, includes a written examination on the main topics of the integrated program. Please refer to the detailed program below.
Other information
Support activities
The teaching material has been moved to the E-Learning University web site -> lea.unipr.it, which is accessible by clicking on the “Go” button at the bottom of Moodle. Availability and updates of teaching materials are subject to approval by the competent authorities of the University.
Access to the restricted section of the course by individual student is through username and password. The student will book the exam list following login. Exams lists are accessible and scheduled annually.
