Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with the basis for the study and understanding of the chemical nature and structure of the constituents of living matter, of the transformations of biomolecules, and of the associated energy modifications. The student will master the biochemical terminology and deepen the knowledge of biological molecules and macromolecules and the organization of metabolic reactions that occur in cells and living organisms. In teaching, emphasis will be given to the relationship between the structure and function of macromolecules and the strategies for regulating their functions
Prerequisites
To tackle the study of biochemistry, the student must have knowledge of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and mathematics. It must possess basic notions of cell biology and properties of scientific language.
Course unit content
Chemical bases of life
The chemical elements of living organisms. Chemical evolution and evolution of life. Monomers and polymers. Water as a biological solvent.Structure and function of proteins.
The amino acids constituting the proteins. The peptide bond. Primary structure of proteins. The α-helix. The β structure. Tertiary and quaternary structures. Fibrous proteins. The structure of collagen. Globular proteins. The structure of myoglobin and hemoglobin. The oxygen saturation curves of myoglobin and hemoglobin. Conformational changes in hemoglobin. Allosteric effectors.Enzymes.
Classification. Properties of active sites. Factors contributing to catalytic efficiency. Catalytic mechanism of some enzymes: chymotrypsin, lysozyme, alcohol dehydrogenaseEnzyme kinetics.
Michaelis-Menten and of Lineweaver and Burk equations. Determination of Km e Vmax. Enzyme inhibition. Determination of the type of inhibition. Kinetics of Bi-Bi reactions. Allosteric enzymes. Regulation of enzymatic activity. Coenzymes: structure and function.Introduction to metabolism.
Basic concepts and general design. Systems producing and utilyzing energy: catabolism and anabolism. ATP and other high-energy metabolites. Redox reactions. Reduction potentials. Variation of Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constant. Determination of the direction of a reaction.Carbohydrates.
Classification, configuration and conformation, enantiomers, diastereomers and anomers; glycoside bond, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins and proteoglycans.Carbohydrate metabolism.
Glycolysis. Reactions, energy balance and regulation. NADH shuttle systems. Interconvertion of sugars.The cycle of tricarboxylic acids.
The pyruvic dehydrogenase complex. Reactions, regulation and balance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Amphibolic intermediates and anaplerotic reactions.Oxidative phosphorylation.
Structure of the mitochondrion. The respiratory chain complexes. Coenzyme Q Cycle. Cytochrome oxidase mechanism. Oxidative phosphorylation. Structure and mechanism of ATP-synthase. Breathing control by the ADP.Other metabolic pathways of carbohydrates.
Degradation and synthesis of glycogen. Regulation of glycogenolysis and glycogen synthase. Gluconeogenesis: activation and inhibition. Pentose phosphate pathway Reactions, mechanisms, regulation and functional meaning.Lipids.
Fatty acids. Triacylglycerides. Cere. Glycerophospholipids. Sphingolipids. Steroids. Plasma lipoproteins Biological membranes. Composition, structure and function of biological membranes. Fluidity and permeability of the lipid double layer. Fluid mosaic model. Glycoproteins. Glycolipids. Transport through the membranesLipid metabolism.
Use of fatty acids for energy production: mitochondrial ß-oxidation. Role of carnitine. ß-oxidation of even- and odd-chain saturated fatty acids; ß-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids; Energy balance. Ketone bodies. The biosynthesis of saturated fatty acids: control and energy balance. Citrate shuttle. Elongation reactions. Formation of unsaturated fatty acids. Cholesterol biosynthesis.Metabolism of amino acids.
Oxidation of amino acids. Transamination reactions. Decarboxylation reactions. Other PLP-dependent reactions. Glutamic dehydrogenase. Urea cycle. Notes on the biosynthesis of amino acids.Metabolism of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides.
Chemistry of purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides and nucleotides. Metabolism of the purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Deoxyribonucleotides. Thymidylate synthase.
Full programme
Chemical bases of life
The chemical elements of living organisms. Chemical evolution and evolution of life. Monomers and polymers. Water as a biological solvent.Structure and function of proteins.
The amino acids constituting the proteins. The peptide bond. Primary structure of proteins. The α-helix. The β structure. Tertiary and quaternary structures. Fibrous proteins. The structure of collagen. Globular proteins. The structure of myoglobin and hemoglobin. The oxygen saturation curves of myoglobin and hemoglobin. Conformational changes in hemoglobin. Allosteric effectors.Enzymes.
Classification. Properties of active sites. Factors contributing to catalytic efficiency. Catalytic mechanism of some enzymes: chymotrypsin, lysozyme, alcohol dehydrogenaseEnzyme kinetics.
Michaelis-Menten and of Lineweaver and Burk equations. Determination of Km e Vmax. Enzyme inhibition. Determination of the type of inhibition. Kinetics of Bi-Bi reactions. Allosteric enzymes. Regulation of enzymatic activity. Coenzymes: structure and function.Introduction to metabolism.
Basic concepts and general design. Systems producing and utilyzing energy: catabolism and anabolism. ATP and other high-energy metabolites. Redox reactions. Reduction potentials. Variation of Gibbs free energy and equilibrium constant. Determination of the direction of a reaction.Carbohydrates.
Classification, configuration and conformation, enantiomers, diastereomers and anomers; glycoside bond, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycoproteins and proteoglycans.Carbohydrate metabolism.
Glycolysis. Reactions, energy balance and regulation. NADH shuttle systems. Interconvertion of sugars.The cycle of tricarboxylic acids.
The pyruvic dehydrogenase complex. Reactions, regulation and balance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Amphibolic intermediates and anaplerotic reactions.Oxidative phosphorylation.
Structure of the mitochondrion. The respiratory chain complexes. Coenzyme Q Cycle. Cytochrome oxidase mechanism. Oxidative phosphorylation. Structure and mechanism of ATP-synthase. Breathing control by the ADP.Other metabolic pathways of carbohydrates.
Degradation and synthesis of glycogen. Regulation of glycogenolysis and glycogen synthase. Gluconeogenesis: activation and inhibition. Pentose phosphate pathway Reactions, mechanisms, regulation and functional meaning.Lipids.
Fatty acids. Triacylglycerides. Cere. Glycerophospholipids. Sphingolipids. Steroids. Plasma lipoproteins Biological membranes. Composition, structure and function of biological membranes. Fluidity and permeability of the lipid double layer. Fluid mosaic model. Glycoproteins. Glycolipids. Transport through the membranesLipid metabolism.
Use of fatty acids for energy production: mitochondrial ß-oxidation. Role of carnitine. ß-oxidation of even- and odd-chain saturated fatty acids; ß-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids; Energy balance. Ketone bodies. The biosynthesis of saturated fatty acids: control and energy balance. Citrate shuttle. Elongation reactions. Formation of unsaturated fatty acids. Cholesterol biosynthesis.Metabolism of amino acids.
Oxidation of amino acids. Transamination reactions. Decarboxylation reactions. Other PLP-dependent reactions. Glutamic dehydrogenase. Urea cycle. Notes on the biosynthesis of amino acids.Metabolism of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides.
Chemistry of purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides and nucleotides. Metabolism of the purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Deoxyribonucleotides. Thymidylate synthase.
Bibliography
D. Voet , J. Voet, C.W. Pratt. Principi di Biochimica, Ed. Zanichelli
D. Voet , J. Voet, C.W. Pratt. Fondamenti di Biochimica, Ed. Zanichelli
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with problem solving exercises.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written and oral exam in online (if applicable) and face-to-face modalities.
In the case of the face-to-face exam, the 90 min. it includes multiple choice questions, open questions with synthetic answers (eg formula recognition of biological molecules and enzymatic rate graphs), a calculation of a metabolic reaction, and writing an enzymatic pathway.
In the case of the online exam, the written test is 30 min. and does not include the metabolic pathway (requested at the oral exam).
In both cases, the oral exams begin on the same day immediately after the correction of the writing.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
This teaching contributes to the realization of the UN goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
