00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The biochemistry course allows the student to acquire the knowledge and ability to understand the fundamentals of the metabolic and catabolic processes and reactions of the human body.

Course contents

Introduction- general aspects of cell structure, biochemistry and metabolism- water as a solvent-weak interactions and their biological significance- pH and buffer systems- colligative properties of water: osmotic pressure.

Amino acids - structure and classification of standard a-amino acids - acid/base properties and titration curves.

Proteins - structural organization: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure - structural characteristics and functional role of fibrous (collagen and a-keratin) and globular proteins - protein denaturation.

Oxygen transport proteins - structural characteristics of myoglobin and of the heme group - oxygen binding curve and biological function of myoglobin - structural characteristics of hemoglobin - oxygen binding curve and positive cooperative binding mechanism - biological function of hemoglobin- Bohr effect.

Enzymes - classification and enzyme cofactors - concept of chemical equilibrium and reaction rate - transition state and mechanism of action of enzymes – Michaelis-Menten kinetics - effect of pH and temperature on enzyme activity - mechanisms of enzymatic activity regulation: covalent modification - proteolytic activation - allosterism.

Nucleotides - structures of purine and pyrimidine bases - description of the structure of nucleosides and nucleotides - nucleoside mono, di and triphosphates (ATP) - biological functions of nucleotides.

Nucleic acids - structure and biological functions of DNA and RNA - stability of the DNA double helix - DNA denaturation - chromatin structure - DNA mutations - mutagens: chemical and physical agents.

Lipids - structure and classification of fatty acids - solubility in water and physical properties of fatty acids - structure and functions of: triglycerides, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol - aggregates of amphipathic lipids in the aqueous phase: surface films, micelles, bilayers and liposomes.

Membranes - composition, structure and functions - simple diffusion, passive and active transport -  Ion pumps (Na+/K+ ATPase) and ion channels.

Carbohydrates - monosaccharides: aldoses and ketoses - stereoisomers: D and L series - open chain structures (Fischer projection formulas) and cyclic structures (Haworth perspective formulas) - disaccharides - polysaccharides: glycogen.

Introduction to metabolism - general aspects - catabolism and anabolism- exergonic/endoergonic processes (standard free energy-DG°') - reversible and irreversible reactions and control of metabolic flows - oxidative phosphorylation: NADH and FADH2 oxidation and activity of the respiratory chain, description of the 4 redox complexes - chemiosmotic theory - ATP synthase and energy production.

Readings/Bibliography

DL. Nelson e MM. Cox : Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger- sesta edizione (ed. Zanichelli).

Teaching methods

Regular lectures

Assessment methods

Students will be assessed through a written exam.

Teaching tools

Slides presented during the lessons will be provided to the students, useful for approaching the study of biochemistry and preparing the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Baracca