Biochemistry
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to:
- to provide the basis of human biochemistry and metabolic relations between the various organs under both physiological and pathological conditions;
- to complete the basic training in biological disciplines integrating, with the biochemical aspects, topics covered in the teachings of Human Anatomy and General Biology, Physiology, Microbiology and Hygiene;
- to provide the basic knowledge for in-depth studies carried out in teachings of students' choice, for example Molecular mechanisms and regulation of biotransformation.
In addition, the teaching contributes to providing the basis for the continuation of studies in the master's degree courses in biotechnology and risk assessment.
- to provide the basis of human biochemistry and metabolic relations between the various organs under both physiological and pathological conditions;
- to complete the basic training in biological disciplines integrating, with the biochemical aspects, topics covered in the teachings of Human Anatomy and General Biology, Physiology, Microbiology and Hygiene;
- to provide the basic knowledge for in-depth studies carried out in teachings of students' choice, for example Molecular mechanisms and regulation of biotransformation.
In addition, the teaching contributes to providing the basis for the continuation of studies in the master's degree courses in biotechnology and risk assessment.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should demonstrate that he/she knows and understands the general principles of biochemistry and the most relevant metabolic pathways operating in the human organism; furthermore, the student should have acquired the ability to integrate the topics illustrated and to re-elaborate the knowledge in an overall view.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
- Fundamentals: general overview of the chemical and physico-chemical features of biomolecules; type of interactions between biomolecules
- Proteins: chemical and physico-chemical properties of amino acids; chemical and sterical features of the peptide bond; tridimensional structure of proteins; overview of the methods used to investigate protein structure; general overview of protein functions with examples (oxygen-binding proteins, antibodies, etc.); principles underlying the methodological approaches for the qualitative-quantitative analysis of proteins
- Enzymes: principles of catalysis; principles of enzyme kinetics and related mathematical models; mechanisms of regulation of enzymatic activity
Biochemistry of biological membranes: chemical structure, topology and functions of the principal components (proteins and lipids); biochemistry of signal transduction; structure, function and modulation of the main receptors regulating metabolic pathways; biochemistry of membrane transport systems
- Bioenergetics and thermodynamics: basic concepts of metabolism, thermodynamic laws applied to biological systems; overview of the general mechanisms of biochemical reactions; general features of the most common co-substrates of biochemical reactions (compounds bearing high-energy phosphoric bonds, electron donors/acceptors)
- General principles governing the regulation of metabolism; key protein kinases and protein phosphatases involved in metabolic regulation
- Carbohydrate metabolism: overview of the chemistry and stereochemistry of monosaccharides, disaccharides and glucose polymers; glycolysis (general overview, mechanisms and thermodynamics of individual reactions); gluconeogenesis (mechanisms of the rate-limiting reactions, gluconeogenic substrates and correlations with alanine and Cori's cycles); pentose phosphate pathway (mechanisms of the key reactions); glycogen metabolism (structure of glycogen particle, enzymes and reactions of glycogen synthesis and degradation); coordinate regulation of glycolysis-gluconeogenesis; coordinate regulation of glycogen synthesis and degradation
- Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle: structure of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and mechanism of the reaction; structure of the enzymatic complexes, mechanisms and thermodynamics of the (TCA) cycle reactions; regulatory mechanisms and sites of the entire cycle
- Fatty acid catabolism: sources, chemical and physico-chemical properties of the main dietary lipids; lipid transport systems in the bloodstream; systemic and intracellular lipolysis of triacylglycerol; fatty acid oxidation systems: structure of the enzymatic complexes and mechanism of the reactions; synthesis and fate of ketone bodies
- Amino acid catabolism: exogenous and endogenous sources of amino acids; transamination reactions (mechanism); oxidative deamination of glutamate; urea cycle (mechanism of the reactions and regulatory sites); metabolic fate of the carbon backbone (TCA cycle, gluconeogenesis, alanine cycle); nitrogen balance
- Oxidative phosphorylation: overview of cellular respiration, chemical and structural properties of the general electron acceptors of biochemical reactions; structure and function of the respiratory chain complexes (protein subunits, cofactors, prosthetic groups); molecular details of the electron flow; reactive oxygen species production in the mitochondria; the chemiosmotic model; experimental approaches to measure cellular respiration; structure, function, and thermodynamics of ATP synthase; transport of electron equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane (malate-aspartate shuttle, glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle)
- Lipogenesis: structure of the enzymatic complexes and mechanism of the reactions required for fatty acid biosynthesis; elongation and desaturation of endogenous and exogenous fatty acids; brief overview of the metabolism of arachidonic acid; general overview of the biosynthesis of phospholipids; cholesterol biosynthesis; cholesterol homeostasis
- Metabolic crosstalk, biochemistry of tissues and organs: liver (especially glucose and lipid metabolism); skeletal muscle in relation to contraction and systemic acidosis; adipose tissues in relation to lipolysis/lipogenesis and thermogenesis; metabolic features of the main brain cells (neurons and astrocytes)
- Proteins: chemical and physico-chemical properties of amino acids; chemical and sterical features of the peptide bond; tridimensional structure of proteins; overview of the methods used to investigate protein structure; general overview of protein functions with examples (oxygen-binding proteins, antibodies, etc.); principles underlying the methodological approaches for the qualitative-quantitative analysis of proteins
- Enzymes: principles of catalysis; principles of enzyme kinetics and related mathematical models; mechanisms of regulation of enzymatic activity
Biochemistry of biological membranes: chemical structure, topology and functions of the principal components (proteins and lipids); biochemistry of signal transduction; structure, function and modulation of the main receptors regulating metabolic pathways; biochemistry of membrane transport systems
- Bioenergetics and thermodynamics: basic concepts of metabolism, thermodynamic laws applied to biological systems; overview of the general mechanisms of biochemical reactions; general features of the most common co-substrates of biochemical reactions (compounds bearing high-energy phosphoric bonds, electron donors/acceptors)
- General principles governing the regulation of metabolism; key protein kinases and protein phosphatases involved in metabolic regulation
- Carbohydrate metabolism: overview of the chemistry and stereochemistry of monosaccharides, disaccharides and glucose polymers; glycolysis (general overview, mechanisms and thermodynamics of individual reactions); gluconeogenesis (mechanisms of the rate-limiting reactions, gluconeogenic substrates and correlations with alanine and Cori's cycles); pentose phosphate pathway (mechanisms of the key reactions); glycogen metabolism (structure of glycogen particle, enzymes and reactions of glycogen synthesis and degradation); coordinate regulation of glycolysis-gluconeogenesis; coordinate regulation of glycogen synthesis and degradation
- Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle: structure of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and mechanism of the reaction; structure of the enzymatic complexes, mechanisms and thermodynamics of the (TCA) cycle reactions; regulatory mechanisms and sites of the entire cycle
- Fatty acid catabolism: sources, chemical and physico-chemical properties of the main dietary lipids; lipid transport systems in the bloodstream; systemic and intracellular lipolysis of triacylglycerol; fatty acid oxidation systems: structure of the enzymatic complexes and mechanism of the reactions; synthesis and fate of ketone bodies
- Amino acid catabolism: exogenous and endogenous sources of amino acids; transamination reactions (mechanism); oxidative deamination of glutamate; urea cycle (mechanism of the reactions and regulatory sites); metabolic fate of the carbon backbone (TCA cycle, gluconeogenesis, alanine cycle); nitrogen balance
- Oxidative phosphorylation: overview of cellular respiration, chemical and structural properties of the general electron acceptors of biochemical reactions; structure and function of the respiratory chain complexes (protein subunits, cofactors, prosthetic groups); molecular details of the electron flow; reactive oxygen species production in the mitochondria; the chemiosmotic model; experimental approaches to measure cellular respiration; structure, function, and thermodynamics of ATP synthase; transport of electron equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane (malate-aspartate shuttle, glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle)
- Lipogenesis: structure of the enzymatic complexes and mechanism of the reactions required for fatty acid biosynthesis; elongation and desaturation of endogenous and exogenous fatty acids; brief overview of the metabolism of arachidonic acid; general overview of the biosynthesis of phospholipids; cholesterol biosynthesis; cholesterol homeostasis
- Metabolic crosstalk, biochemistry of tissues and organs: liver (especially glucose and lipid metabolism); skeletal muscle in relation to contraction and systemic acidosis; adipose tissues in relation to lipolysis/lipogenesis and thermogenesis; metabolic features of the main brain cells (neurons and astrocytes)
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge acquired in the courses of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Human Anatomy and General Biology is fundamental for understanding and learning the topics covered in the course of Biochemisty.
Teaching methods
The teaching includes frontal lessons during which students are warmly invited to participate with questions, comments, observations. Students will be stimulated to develop a critical sense and a "problem solving" approach. In some cases students will be invited, on a voluntary basis, to present the teaching material to their peers, under the supervision of the teacher. Short videos will be presented during the lectures and learning objects will also be made available for further study. The use of interactive teaching technologies for consolidation and verification of learning will be proposed.
Teaching Resources
Nelson e Cox "I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger" Zanichelli
Voet, Voet e Pratt "Fondamenti di Biochimica" Zanichelli
Murray, Granner, Mayes, Rodwell "Harper Biochimica" McGraw-Hill
The iconographic material presented during the lessons and other in-depth material will be made available in digital format through the Ariel platform.
Voet, Voet e Pratt "Fondamenti di Biochimica" Zanichelli
Murray, Granner, Mayes, Rodwell "Harper Biochimica" McGraw-Hill
The iconographic material presented during the lessons and other in-depth material will be made available in digital format through the Ariel platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will be conducted orally.
Specifically, the examination will be aimed at:
- assessing the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course
- testing the ability to discuss the biochemical aspects of complex processes, to describe general principles (e.g., protein structure and function relationship, enzyme catalysis, signal transduction and regulatory mechanisms) by discussing specific examples, to highlight correlations and the degree of metabolic integration, for example at the level of organs and tissues;
- verifying the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to non-physiological situations (e.g. pathologies, exposure to compounds also toxic in the environment);
- verifying the ability to describe the topics clearly and, where required, with specific terms pertinent to biological and chemical disciplines
Specifically, the examination will be aimed at:
- assessing the level of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered during the course
- testing the ability to discuss the biochemical aspects of complex processes, to describe general principles (e.g., protein structure and function relationship, enzyme catalysis, signal transduction and regulatory mechanisms) by discussing specific examples, to highlight correlations and the degree of metabolic integration, for example at the level of organs and tissues;
- verifying the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to non-physiological situations (e.g. pathologies, exposure to compounds also toxic in the environment);
- verifying the ability to describe the topics clearly and, where required, with specific terms pertinent to biological and chemical disciplines
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 8
Lessons: 64 hours
Professor:
De Fabiani Emma Selina Rosa
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and upon request via Microsoft Teams or email
Microsoft Teams