Functional, metabolic and epigenetic biochemistry

Cellular homeostasis is the resultant of a complex network of chemical reactions and metabolic pathways occurring within the different organelles present in the cell and in a continuous and dynamic cross-talk. The regulation of gene expression plays a significant role in all cell regulatory activities and epigenetic modification of the DNA have a unique role in the control of specific cell functions. Deviances from natural homeostasis generally result in pathology. The aim of the course will be to familiarize the students with major intracellular potential targets of selected classes of xenobiotics and environmental stressors of chemical and physical nature and with the methodologies to be applied for the study and identification of xenobiotics potentially harmful for human health.

At the end of the course students will acquire the biochemical and molecular bases that regulate metabolism and other cellular functions in different cell types and organs. In particular, students will be able to understand molecular mechanisms of regulation of metabolism in response to hormones, nutritional and environmental cues. Students will also acquire knowledge on epigenome modifications and how they are implicated in the regulation of diverse cellular processes, including metabolism, gene transcription, differentiation, cell reprogramming in health and disease and in response to environmental stimuli (e.g., xenobiotics) that may impact other generations (transgenerational effects).