BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- MARIA ROBERTA PIVA
- Credits
- 7
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
Training objectives
- The main aims of the course are to train students able to move in the vast discipline of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology acquiring skills to understand and describe: chemistry, functions, structure and the metabolic role of the main biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, and derivatives thereof); mechanisms of metabolic energy production, energetic and structural homeostasis of living cells; the metabolic interrelationships with particular reference to the bio-medical field; the structure and function of eukaryotic gene; the mechanisms of control of gene expression.
Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of Biology, Histology, General and Organic Chemistry.
Course programme
- Introduction to Biochemistry (2 hours): Cell and organelles, biomolecules, biopolymers, Laws of Thermodynamics, overview of metabolism and nutrition.
Proteins (2 hours): general concepts on structures and functions.
Enzymes (6 hours): properties and classification; the significance and mechanisms of enzyme catalysis; general concepts of enzyme kinetics; mechanisms of regulation of enzyme activity (inhibitors, covalent modifications, allosteric enzymes, zymogens); cofactors and coenzymes; vitamins; abzymes; ribozymes. Serin proteases.
Hemoglobin (4 hours): Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin; oxygen transport; the heme group; dissociation curve, oxygen regulation of the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen (CO2, H+, BPG); pathological hemoglobins; iron metabolism and its regulation; ferritin and transferrin. Blood coagulation (basic concepts).
Metabolism (40 hours):
Basic concepts of Catabolism and Anabolism, coupled reactions, high energy molecules. Bioenergetics. The transfer of phosphate groups. Structure and function of ATP, mechanisms of ATP production. Coenzymes.
Anaerobiosis and aerobiosis. The role of oxygen in the metabolism. ROS production and defense mechanisms. Glutathione.
General concepts on carbohydrates and their structures. Glucose: digestion of sugars, glucose transporters and control of glycemia.
Functions, steps and regulation mechanisms of: Glycolysis, Citric acid cycle, Gluconeogenesis, the Pentose Phosphate Shunt, Glycogenolysis and Glycogen synthesis. Hormonal regulation of sugar metabolism. Pyruvate fate. Cori Cycle. Acetil-CoA production: pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
Oxidative phosphorylation: the electron carriers. Electron flow and ATP synthesis. Mechanisms of coupling between respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Ultrastructure of mitochondria, the structure and function of the respiratory chain complexes. ATP Synthase. Transport systems of cytoplasmic NADH. Transport of ATP and ADP. The energy balance. Thermogenin and uncoupling agents.
General concepts on lipids and their structures. Lipids and energetic metabolism, phospholipids and fosfatidic acid. Structure and function of membranes. Chylomicrons, LDL, VLDL, HDL, IDL. Digestion and Absorption of Fats.
Functions, steps and regulation mechanisms of: degradation of lipids, mobilization and transport of fatty acids, fatty acid oxidation, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, biosynthesis of fatty acids. Hormonal regulation of lipid metabolism.
Colesterol: function, biosynthesis and regulation mechanisms. LDL receptor.
Proteins and amino acids metabolism: protein diet and cellular proteins, degradation of amino acids, overview on amino acids biosynthesis. Urea cycle. Post translational modifications. Amino acid derivatives.
Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleotide metabolism: biosynthesis, degradation and mechanisms of regulation. Nucleic acid functions.
Integration of Metabolism: metabolic inter-relations between different organs. Fasting-feeding cycle. Hormonal regulation. Mechanism of steroid and protein hormone action. Second messanger system. Biochemical aspects of human pathologies: Diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, Cancer.
Extracellular matrix (2 hours): characteristics and functions. Didactic methods
- The course will be held with oral lectures and will make use of multimedia systems. Teacher will be available throughout the duration of the course to answer questions and support students during their training with individual meetings by appointment.
Learning assessment procedures
- Achievement of course objectives is assessed through oral examination designed to evaluate understanding of biochemical concepts and their applications to biological and biomedical problems.
Reference texts
- Recommended books:
"Biochimica" di Berg-Tynoczko-Stryer, Zanichelli
"I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger" di Nelson-Cox, Zanichelli
"Principi di Biochimica" di Garret&Grisham, Piccin
"Fondamenti di Biochimica" di Voet-Voet-Pratt, Zanichelli
"Biologia Molecolare" di Amaldi- Benedettii-Pesole-Plevani, Ambrosiana, Milano
