37200 - Chemistry andBiochemistry I (B)

Learning outcomes

The Chemistry and General Biochemistry course allows the student to acquire the knowledge and ability to understand the fundamental aspects of chemical reactions (stoichiometry, thermodynamics and kinetics); the properties of the chemical components of living matter, the structure and properties of carbohydrate and lipid molecules; the thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and in particular of cellular bioenergetics, the structural and functional characteristics of protein macromolecules, the mechanism of action of enzymes, enzymatic kinetics and the mechanisms of regulation of biochemical and metabolic processes; the structure of nucleic acids and the description of the processes involved in the replication, transcription and translation of DNA with consequent protein synthesis.

Course contents

Introduction- general aspects of cell structure, inorganic and organic chemical components and basics of metabolism thermodynamic aspects of the cell and animal organisms.

Bioenergetics - laws of thermodynamics - Gibbs equation - free energy and chemical potential - DG' and DG'°: relationship of DG'° with the equilibrium constant - coupled reactions - high energy compounds - - ATP and its central role in metabolism - mechanisms at the basis of ATP-driven reactions - redox reactions and redox potentials (E' and E'°) - relationship between DG (DG'°) and DE (DE'°).

Chemical bonds and weak interactions - nature and strength of chemical bonds in biomolecules - hydrogen bonds and chemical-physical properties of water - solvent properties of water - weak interactions and their biological role - pH and buffer systems - colligative properties of water: osmotic pressure.

Amino acids- structure, classification and acid/base properties of amino acids.

Proteins - structural organization: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure - structural characteristics and functional role of fibrous and globular proteins - thermodynamics and kinetics of polypeptide chain folding - protein denaturation.

Oxygen carrier proteins: structure of the prosthetic heme group- structural characteristics of myoglobin-oxygen binding curve and biological function of myoglobin - structural characteristics of hemoglobin - oxygen binding curve and positive cooperative mechanism of oxygen binding - Biological function of hemoglobin- allosterism and allosteric effectors (Bohr effect) of hemoglobin.

Enzymology classification of enzymes - enzymatic cofactors - chemical equilibrium and kinetics of a chemical reaction - free energy diagram of a reaction: activation energy and transition state - mechanism of action of enzymes - mechanisms and catalytic strategies - Michaelis and Menten kinetics - irreversible and reversible inhibitors - effect of pH and temperature on enzyme activity - -mechanisms of regulation of enzyme activity: covalent modification - proteolytic activation - allosterism.

Readings/Bibliography

"I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger" di DL Nelson e MM Cox, VIII edizione-Zanichelli
"Biochimica" di JM Berg, JL Tymoczko e L Stryer, settima edizione Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Regular lectures

Assessment methods

Written Exams of Chemistry and General Biochemistry. The written exam is considered passed if the student has acquired a sufficient evaluation in both disciplines (Chemistry-Prof. P. Taddei and General Biochemistry-Prof. A. Baracca and Dr. C. Zanna). As regards the written exam in Chemistry, please refer to the web guides of Prof. P. Taddei.

The written exam of General Biochemistry is a test consisting of multiple choice quizzes (3 x question) on the subjects covered by the teaching of General Biochemistry. Each answer (30 in total) is assigned a score of +1 if correct, or 0 if wrong. The time available to the student for the written test is 12 minutes. The use of support material such as textbooks, notes, IT supports is not permitted during the test. The test is considered passed if the candidate reaches the minimum score of 18/30.

Passing the written test of Chemistry and General Biochemistry is mandatory for the student to participate in the oral sessions of Metabolic Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The assessment acquired in the Chemistry and General Biochemistry module is valid for one calendar year. The grade obtained in the course of Chemistry and General Biochemistry contributes to the definition of the grade of the Biochemistry (I.C.), which will correspond to the weighted average on the basis of the credits of the first and second semester courses. According to the teaching rules of the Medicine and Surgery course, the BIOCHEMISTRY exam, like all those of the 1st year, must be passed before the student faces the exams of the 4th year and of the following years.

Teaching tools

-Regular lectures for insights and explanations.

- Multimedia laboratories to (i) deepen and promote the understanding of aspects relating to the 3D structure of proteins and the correlation between their structure and function (ii) acquire knowledge of molecular techniques used for qualitative and quantitative analyzes of DNA, used in the fields of clinical diagnostics, forensic medicine, and research. The laboratory activity is also useful for students' understanding of the biochemical mechanisms underlying complex processes such as DNA replication and transcription.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Baracca