37201 - Metabolic Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will know the main metabolic processes in humans and the general mechanisms of metabolic regulation. Furthermore, the student will understand exercise energetics and the molecular mechanisms of adaptions to training responsible of performance enhancement and associated to the beneficial effect of exercise on human health.

Course contents

The metabolism. A survey of metabolism. Anabolic and catabolic reactions. Metabolic regulation. Main characteristics of blood, muscle, liver, brain and adipose tissue.

Hormones and receptors. Cellular cross talking: receptors and ligands. Signal transduction. The main hormones.

Carbohydrate metabolism . Regulation of blood glucose. Transport and fate of glucose in the cell. Glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis. Glycolisis. The fate of pyruvate. Formation of lactate.  Regulation and energetic of glycolysis. The pentose phosphate pathway. Gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenic precursors.

The citric acid cycl . Acetyl-CoA. Reactions, scope and regulation of the citric acid cycle.

Metabolism of lipids. Triacylglicerols  and adipocytes. Lipolysis and transport. The oxidation of fatty acids. Energetics of beta-oxidation. Formation of ketone bodies. The biosynthesis of lipids. The synthesis of fatty acids and its regulation. Metabolism of cholesterol.

Metabolism of amino acids and proteins . Amino acid pool and amino acid metabolism. Protein turnover. Hormonal regulation of protein synthesis and degradation. Transamination and oxidative deamination of amino acids. The urea cycle. Ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids. Muscle metabolism of branched chain amino acids.

 A survey of nucleotide synthesis and degradation. Purine catabolism. Heme and Iron metabolism. Creatine metabolism. Carnitine metabolism.

Exercise metabolism. Energy demand and energy stores in the muscle cell.  Metabolic characteristics of muscle fibers. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms. Aerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise. Phosphocreatine. Function of myokinase. Lactate metabolism.  Cardiac metabolism.

Metabolic adaption to training. Mechanisms of adaption. Aerobic and anaerobic training Consequences on performance and health

Readings/Bibliography

Di Giulio, Fiorilli, Stefanelli. Biochimica per le Scienze motorie. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana 2011

Nelson, Cox.  Lehninger princples of Biochemistry. Worth Publishers. 3th edition

V. Mougios Exercise Biochemistry, Human Kinetics Publishers. First edition.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures (24 hours)

Assessment methods

The learning assessment is conducted through a final examination at the end of lessons. The exam consist of a witten test (multiple choice questions) plus a few general questions.  The course unit of Metabolic Biochemistry is part of the integrated course of "Human Biochemistry and Nutrition" (together with other units "Biochemistry" and "Human Nutrition). The final vote of the integrated course results from the mean of the scores obtained in the three course units. 

Teaching tools

All slides shown during the lessons are available in Campus  https://campus.cib.unibo.it/cgi/users/home

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/docenti/claudio.stefanelli

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Stefanelli