00064 - General Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows the biochemical processes related to the interaction of nutrients

Course contents

• The chemical foundations of biochemistry. Water and pH.
• Nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids.
• Amino acids, peptides and proteins.
• Myoglobin and hemoglobin.
• Enzymes and their regulation. Coenzymes and vitamines.
  
• Bioenergetics and role of ATP. Catabolism and anabolism.
• Structure and metabolism of carbohydrates. Digestion of carbohydrates. Blood glucose and its regulation. Overview of carbohydrate metabolism. Glycogen synthesis and glycogenolysis. Glycolysis and glucogenesis. Pentose phosphate cycle.
• Pyruvate oxidation and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation.
• Structure of lipids. Overview of lipid metabolism. Digestion of lipids. Plasma Lipoproteins. Lipolysis and lipogenesis. beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Ketone bodies. Cholesterol.
• Metabolism of nitrogen compouds. Digestion of proteins. Overview of amino acid metabolism. Fate of carbon skeleton and amino group of aminoacids. Urea cycle. Gluconeogenesis. Biogenic amines.
  
• Signal transduction Nuclear and membrane receptors. Main hormones regulating metabolism: glucagon, insulin, catecholamines, glucocorticoids.
  
  

Clinical cases in relation to metabolic biochemistry:

• Lactose intolerance; fructosemia.
• Ethanol metabolism.
• Xylulosuria and thiamine deficiency; favism; pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.
• Cyanide poisoning; impaired perfusion metabolic acidosis.
• Hyperchylomicronemia; familial hypercholesterolemia; medium-chain fatty acid acyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency.
• Phenylketonuria; urea cycle defects; maple syrup urine disease.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides presented during the lecture will be made available to students on the Virtual platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

 

D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox. Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger. Zanichelli

M. Stefani, N. Taddei. Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia applicata. Zanichelli.

M. Stefani, N. Taddei. Chimica & Biochimica. Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The General Biochemistry exam consists of a written test in General Biochemistry made up of multiple-choice quizzes.

The General Biochemistry exam is considered passed if the student obtains a sufficient grade (18/30).

The partial grades, expressed in thirtieths (with the possibility of honors in case of rounding to 31), obtained in Applied Biology, in the Professionalizing Laboratory, and in General Biochemistry contribute to the final grade of the C.I. of Biomedical Sciences I. This is determined through an overall evaluation that takes into account the CFU of the various components.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The teaching material will be available to students.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Cetrullo