85059 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The student should acquire the knowledge of the basic molecular processes characterizing the cell functions. At the end of the lessons the student will know the chemical structure and the organization of main biomolecules. Furthermore, the student will understand the bioenergetics of living organisms and the mechanisms of energy production. Aim of this course is to supply the students with the basic knowledge required to understand the metabolism and the molecular processes that underlie movement and training

Course contents

1. BASIC CHEMISTRY

Atoms and ions. Chemical bonds. Molecules and chemical formula. Water. Solutions. Acids and bases. The pH scale. The chemistry of carbon. Bioelements.

2. BIOMOLECULES

Structure and function of the main biomolecules. Glucids. Lipids. Amino acids and proteins. Nucleotides and nucleic acids

3. CELL BIOPHYSICS AND BIOENERGETICS

Chemical reactions. Enzymes. Biophisics. Bioenergetics. Energy and cells. Structure, and function of ATP. Anaerobic mechanisms. The respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation.

4. OXYGEN BIOCHEMISTRY

Oxygen-binding proteins . Hemoglobin. Red cells and erithropoietin. Myoglobin. Reactive Oxygen Species. Antioxidants and defense mechanisms.

5. MUSCLE BIOCHEMISTRY

The skeletal muscle fibers. Molecular mechanism of muscle contraction. Introduction to physical exercise.

6. CELL SIGNALING AND INTRODUCTION TO METABOLISM

Cell communication and cell signaling. Ligands and receptors. Basic signal transduction. Hormones and cellular cross talking. Basic biochemistry of main hormones. Catecholamines. Glucagon. Insulin. IGF-I. Growth hormone. Myostatin. Adipokines. Thyroid hormones. Steroid hormones. Regulation of Calcium homeostasis. Catabolism and anabolism. Metabolic regulation. Transport across biological membranes. A survey of metabolism. Main characteristics of blood, muscle, liver, brain and adipose tissue.

7. THE METABOLISM

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. The conversion of pyruvate into glucose. Gluconeogenetic precursors.

The citric acid cycle. The formation of acetyl-CoA. Reactions and scope of the citric acid cycle. Regulation of the cycle. Energy production.

Lipid Metabolism. Triacylglicerols and adipocytes. Lipolysis and transport. Cellular metabolism of fatty acids. The role of carnitine. 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. Essential fatty acids. Leptin. Metabolism of cholesterol.

Metabolism of amino acids and proteins. The amino acid pool. A survey of amino acid metabolism. Protein turnover. Hormonal regulation of protein synthesis and degradation: catabolic and anabolic effectors. Proteins as amino acid source. Transamination. Oxidative deamination. The fate of ammonia and the urea cycle. Ketogenetic and glucogenetic amino acids. Metabolism of branched chain amino acids.

8. EXERCISE METABOLISM

Muscle biochemistry and metabolism during exercise.Energy demand and energy stores in the muscle cell. Muscle glycogen. Intramuscle triacylglicerols. The role of phosphocreatine. Function of myokinase. Classification and metabolic characteristics of muscle fibers. The red muscle. The white muscle. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms: the bioergonic systems. ATP synthesis during anaerobic activity. The recycling of lactate. The Cori cycle. Glucose-alanine cycle. Biochemisry and training.

Readings/Bibliography

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

Don MacLaren - Biochemistry for Sport and Exercise Metabolism

Teaching methods

Lectures 

Assessment methods

The learning assessment is conducted through a written final examination at the end of lessons (20-22 multiple choice questions plus 2 specific questions about general biochemistry and metabolic biochemistry).

The course unit of Biochemistry is part of the integrated course of "Human Biochemistry and Nutrition" (together with the unit "Human Nutrition”)

Teaching tools

All slides shown during the lessons are available in the VIRTUALE repository.

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Stefanelli

See the website of Francesca Fornari