00064 - General Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the biochemical processes related to the interaction of nutrients

Course contents

• The chemical foundations of biochemistry. Water and pH.
• Nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids.
• Amino acids, peptides and proteins.
• Myoglobin and hemoglobin.
• Enzymes and their regulation. Coenzymes and vitamines.
  
• Bioenergetics and role of ATP. Catabolism and anabolism.
• Structure and metabolism of carbohydrates. Digestion of carbohydrates. Blood glucose and its regulation. Overview of carbohydrate metabolism. Glycogen synthesis and glycogenolysis. Glycolysis and glucogenesis. Pentose phosphate cycle.
• Pyruvate oxidation and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation.
• Structure of lipids. Overview of lipid metabolism. Digestion of lipids. Plasma Lipoproteins. Lipolysis and lipogenesis. beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Ketone bodies. Cholesterol.
• Metabolism of nitrogen compouds. Digestion of proteins. Overview of amino acid metabolism. Fate of carbon skeleton and amino group of aminoacids. Urea cycle. Gluconeogenesis. Biogenic amines.
  
• Signal transduction Nuclear and membrane receptors. Main hormones regulating metabolism: glucagon, insulin, catecholamines, glucocorticoids.
  
  

Some pathological and metabolic conditions will be used as case studies to highlight the consequences of alterations in the main metabolic pathways and to contextualize the biochemical mechanisms covered during the course. Case discussions, guided by the professor, are aimed at promoting understanding of biochemical processes and their biological and nutritional relevance.

Readings/Bibliography

Reference Texts

• D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox, Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger, Zanichelli.

Recommended Texts

• M. Stefani, N. Taddei, Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia applicata, Zanichelli.
• M. Stefani, N. Taddei, Chimica & Biochimica, Zanichelli.

Teaching Materials

The slides used during the lectures and any supplementary materials will be made available on the Virtual Platform.

Teaching methods

Teaching is delivered through in-person lectures designed to provide students with the fundamental theoretical knowledge of biochemistry.

The lectures are complemented by the presentation and guided discussion of selected case studies focusing on metabolic alterations. These examples are intended to connect the biochemical mechanisms covered during the course with real biological and pathological conditions, thereby promoting an understanding of the functional significance of metabolic pathways and their regulation.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of a written exam consisting of multiple-choice questions designed to assess:

• knowledge of the main concepts of general biochemistry;
• understanding of metabolic pathways and their regulatory mechanisms;
• the ability to identify the relationships between metabolism, nutrition, and hormonal regulation;
• the ability to recognize the main biochemical mechanisms involved in the examples discussed during the course.

The exam is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30.

The grade obtained in General Biochemistry, along with the grades obtained in the other courses of the Integrated Course in Biomedical Sciences I, contributes to the final grade of the Integrated Course, according to the weights defined based on the respective credits.

Regarding assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The following will be made available on the Virtual Platform:

• Slides used during lectures;
• any additional materials.

Students will be able to use generative AI tools to support their individual study (for example, for clarification, summaries, and self-assessment), maintaining a critical approach to the content produced and always verifying its accuracy using the teaching materials and reference texts.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Cetrullo