00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows what are the metabolic pathways used in the human body to meet the structural, energy and tissue-specific needs of the cells, with particular reference to the stomatognathic system. In particular, the student is able to: • understand the biological strategies and purposes that make the various phases of the metabolism interdependent (anabolism, intermediate metabolism, catabolism); • know the metabolic pathways by which biological matter is transformed, locating the sites of reactions within the cell, tissues and organs, with greater reference to the stomatognathic system; • know the processes of production and use of energy in the cell and the role played by mitochondria; • recognize the mechanisms of regulation of the main enzymatic reactions in relation to cellular metabolism and more general homeostasis of the human body; • use biochemistry knowledge to identify and understand some important metabolic processes that regulate the physiology and pathophysiology of the stomatognathic system

Course contents

Enzymology - General structure and classification of enzymes. Co-factors and coenzymes. Enzyme-substrate interactions. Enzymatic kinetics. Activation energy, transition state and intermediate states. Michaelis-Menten equation. Steady state. Meaning of Km, Vmax and kcat. Linear graphs of enzymatic kinetics. Unit of measurement of enzymatic activity. Enzymatic regulation mechanisms. Allosteric enzymes and their kinetics. Cooperative effect. Reversible and irreversible enzymatic inhibition.

Introduction to metabolism - Anabolism and catabolism. Hydrolysis of ATP and phosphate transfer potential. Factors that contribute to increasing the absolute value of hydrolysis free energy of particular phosphoric bonds.

Carbohydrate metabolism - Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis. Reversible and irreversible glycolytic reactions. Substrate phosphorylation. Glycolytic flow regulation enzymes. Phosphofructokinase 1 and 2. Energy yield of glycolysis. Alternative destinations for glycolytic intermediates. Use of mannose, fructose and galactose. The way of pentose phosphates. Glutathione metabolism, glutathione reductase and peroxidase. Gluconeogenesis. Cori cycle. Glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis. Hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism.

Lipid metabolism - Digestion and absorption of lipids. Plasma lipoproteins. Lipolysis and its hormonal regulation. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Role of carnitine. Oxidation in peroxisomes and microsomes. Ketogenesis. Biosynthesis of fatty acids and triglycerides. Biosynthesis of cholesterol. Regulation of HMG-CoA reductase. Synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. DHA and EPA derivatives. Effect of glucocorticoids on prostaglandin synthesis.

Amino acid and protein metabolism - Digestion and absorption of proteins. Intracellular degradation of proteins. Proteasome. Transamination and desamination. Ammonium / ammonia ion metabolism and transport to the liver. Role of glutamine and asparagine. Glucose-alanine cycle. Essential amino acids, glucogenetic and ketogenetic. Urea cycle and its regulation.

Nucleotide metabolism - Digestion of nucleic acids. Degradation and recovery pathways of nucleobases. Pathways of uric acid formation.

Mitochondrial energy metabolism ) - Pyruvate dehydrogenase. Citric acid cycle and its metabolic interrelations. Anaplerotic reactions. Mitchell's chemo-osmotic theory. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Coenzyme Q cycle. Electrochemistry of the respiratory chain. ATP synthase. Coupling respiration / oxidative phosphorylation. Respiratory control. Transport of reducing equivalents to mitochondria.

Readings/Bibliography

Nelson, Cox PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHNINGER

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Assessment methods

In order to access the exam you must have passed the Chemistry test. The verification of the learning of the Biochemistry program takes place through a written test that ensures the acquisition of the knowledge and skills expected, followed by its correction and the explanation of the mistakes made in the presence of the student. The test consists in answering both open questions and multiple choice questions. The final evaluation is expressed in thirtieths and counts as a final mark for the C.I. Chemistry and Biochemistry. Attendance at each lesson is ascertained by affixing the student's signature on the attendance sheet

Teaching tools

PC and projector. Availability of the electronic presentation of the lessons at the beginning of the course. The teaching material provided by the teacher is not sufficient to pass the exam and must be supplemented by university texts

Office hours

See the website of Vitaliano Tugnoli

See the website of Emanuele Domenico Giordano