00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Biochemistry course, the student is expected to understand:

· the thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and the fundamentals of cellular bioenergetics;

· the structural and functional characteristics of protein macromolecules;

· the mechanism of enzyme action, enzyme kinetics, and the mechanisms regulating the rate of biochemical processes;

· the structure of nucleic acids and the molecular basis of DNA replication, as well as the transcription and translation phases of protein synthesis;

· the essential elements of the intermediate metabolism of major biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, and nitrogen-containing compounds), the associated energy changes, their metabolic and hormonal interrelationships and regulations, and the cellular localization and compartmentalization of the main metabolic pathways;

· the specialization of various human organs and tissues in metabolic activities as a basis for understanding their specific functions;

· the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular activity, with particular emphasis on intracellular signal transduction and the role of hormones, other extracellular messengers, and vitamins at the metabolic and genetic levels;

· the molecular basis of human nutrition and nutrigenomics necessary to understand the role of nutrients in food in maintaining the metabolic homeostasis of cells and tissues.

Course contents

The course is integrated (Module 1 and Module 2) and the teaching is divided into topics, with the program structured as follows.

Module 1

Biological Macromolecules. Proteins: denaturation and folding; heme proteins: structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Enzymes and Enzymology. Classification; effects on reaction rate and thermodynamics; enzyme kinetics and the Michaelis-Menten equation; inhibition mechanisms; coenzymes and cofactors; allosteric regulation.

Bioenergetics. The second law of thermodynamics and free energy; classification of biochemical reactions; phosphoester compounds and ATP; redox reactions in biochemistry.

Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids. Three-dimensional structure of DNA and RNA; denaturation of nucleic acids; DNA organization, supercoiling and topoisomerases, nucleosomes and histones.

DNA Metabolism – Replication. DNA replication: mechanisms of replication and repair; telomeres and telomerase.

RNA Metabolism – Transcription. DNA-dependent synthesis of RNA (transcription); transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Protein Synthesis – Translation. Protein synthesis: initiation, elongation, termination, folding, and post-translational processing.

Module 2

General Concepts of Metabolism. Metabolic pathways, their regulation and compartmentalization; catabolism and anabolism.

Carbohydrate Metabolism. Glycolysis; gluconeogenesis; glycogen metabolism (glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis); pentose phosphate pathway; Krebs cycle; oxidative phosphorylation.

Lipid Metabolism. Catabolism of fatty acids; ketone bodies; biosynthesis of lipids (fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol); lipid transport, role of lipoproteins.

Nitrogen Metabolism. Biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids; urea cycle; synthesis, salvage, and degradation of purines; synthesis and degradation of pyrimidines; synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides.

Signal Transduction. G-protein coupled receptors (pathways of cyclic AMP, diacylglycerol, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and Ca²⁺ as intracellular messengers); signal transduction shutdown mechanisms; receptors with intrinsic enzymatic activity (insulin and growth factor receptors), Ras protein and MAP kinase pathways and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K); channel receptors; nuclear receptors and response elements to lipophilic hormones.

Hormone Biochemistry. Synthesis, secretion, plasma transport, and mechanism of action of polypeptide hormones, amino acid-derived hormones, and steroid hormones. Molecular and metabolic effects of hormones that regulate tissue metabolism. Hormone receptors and their regulation.

Integration of Metabolism. Energy requirements of organs, metabolic correlations between organs: in the fed state, during fasting, physical activity, and pregnancy.

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals in nutrition. Nutritional function of macronutrients (carbohydrates: glycemic index and glycemic load of foods, dietary fiber; lipids: essential fatty acids, omega-6 and omega-3 families; proteins: essential amino acids, biological value, protein complementarity) and micronutrients (fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, calcium homeostasis); digestion and absorption, nutrient requirements and guidelines, diseases related to deficiencies or malnutrition.

Nutritional and Energy Requirements. Nutritional status and its indicators. Body mass index and its correlations. Body composition and its changes. Energy expenditure: basal and total metabolism. Nutritional regulation of metabolism. Gastrointestinal and adipose tissue signals in energy balance control.

Readings/Bibliography

D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox "I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger". VIII ed., Zanichelli

T.M. Devlin, "Biochimica con aspetti clinici" V ed., Edises

A. Di Giulio, A. Lorenzini, M. Malaguti “Alimentazione per lo sport e il benessere. Principi di nutrizione” CEA casa editrice ambrosiana

C. Pignatti, Biochimica della nutrizione, Esculapio, Data di Pubblicazione: marzo 2022, ISBN: 8893852853

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test with open-ended or multiple-choice questions.
If a student decides to retake the exam, regardless of the result obtained, the previous exam result will be automatically canceled. The exam can be repeated in any exam session.

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

PowerPoint presentations from lectures and in-depth discussions of scientific publications.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Zanna

See the website of Michele Di Foggia