84262 - Biochemistry Laboratory

Learning outcomes

Describe the principal biochemical techniques and their applications in medicine.

Course contents

The course will be divided into 11 hours of lecture in class and 6 hours in laboratory.

The topics of the lectures will be the following:

• Protein structure:

1. Hemoglobin and Myoglobin

• pH and buffers

• Analytical techniques widely used in biochemistry

1. Spectrophotometry
2. Liquid Chrmoatography
3. Mass spectrometry
4. Structural techniques (XRD, NMR, SEM)

• Typical Biochemical techniques

1. Western Blotting
2. Electrophoresis
3. Ultracentrifugation

 

Two different laboratory experiments will be conducted:

• a computer-based simulation on protein structure and enzymatic catalysis (computer classroom "Bertoluzza", via Belmeloro 8/2)
• chemical laboratory on acid-base titrations and buffer preparation and use of a UV-vis spectrophotometer to monitor a denaturation process (Biotechnology Laboratory, General Pathology Building, via San Giacomo 14.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

PowerPoint presentations integrated by personal notes can give a useful outline of the course.

Students can refer to the textbooks suggested for the Chemistry and General Biochemistry lessons.

Teaching methods

Traditional lecture-based teaching based on Power Point presentations (11 hours).

Laboratory experiences (6 hours): computer-based simulations on protein structure and enzymatic activity and chemistry laboratory experiences on pH and buffers and spectrophotometric techniques.

Assessment methods

The students are requested to complete the calculations connected with the titration of phosphoric acid and the spectrophotometric analysis of DNA denaturation.

Teaching tools

All the lectures will be supported by PowerPoint presentations, downloadable from AMS Campus before the beginning of each lecture.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Di Foggia