00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The course provides knowledge in the human metabolism and fundamentals of hormonal metabolic regulations.

Course contents

Introduction to the study of biochemistry. Composition of living matter and introduction to the study of biomolecules: essentials of organic chemistry and references to the main monofunctional compounds. Water as a solvent: properties of aqueous solutions. Osmotic pressure: biological implications.

Autoionization of water. Equilibria in aqueous solutions. Acids, bases and dissociation equilibria. Definition of pH. Buffer solutions and biological buffers. Redox reactions.

Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and sterols. Nucleosides, nucleotides and polynucleotides. DNA and RNA. Structure and properties of amino acids. Peptide bond. The structural levels of protein organization. Classification of proteins. Examples of fibrous and globular proteins: collagen, myoglobin, hemoglobin. Structure, function and classification of enzymes. Mechanism of catalysis. Regulation of enzyme activity. Hydrosoluble vitamins and coenzymes. Bioenergetics. Introduction to metabolism: catabolism and anabolism. High-energy compounds. Role of ATP in metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis. Glycogenesis and glycogenolysis. Glycemia. Gluconeogenesis. Krebs cycle. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Lipid metabolism. Lipid transport in blood plasma: lipoproteins. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Lipolysis and lipogenesis. Ketone bodies. Protein metabolism. Catabolism of amino acids. Ureogenesis.

Readings/Bibliography

E. Chiricozzi, D. Colombo, F. Magni, O. Marin, P. Palestini, V. Tugnoli "Elementi di Chimica e Biochimica" EdiSES

M. Stefani, N. Taddei “Chimica Biochimica e Biologia applicata” Zanichell

Teaching material can be downloaded through Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Exam sessions: oral examination in Biochemistry and Applied Biology.

The final mark is the average of the results obtained in the individual disciplines of the course (Biochemistry, Applied Biology, Anatomy, Physiology).

To book an exam, the student must use AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm).

Teaching tools

Teaching material can be downloaded through Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Scientific videos to clarify metabolic processes.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Taddei