00061 - Biochemistry (A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Biochemistry course, the student knows: the thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and the fundamentals of cellular bioenergetics, the structural and functional characteristics of protein macromolecules, the mechanism of action of enzymes, enzyme kinetics and the mechanisms of regulation of the rate of biochemical processes; the structure of nucleic acids and the molecular bases of the DNA replication process, and the transcription and translation phases of protein synthesis; the essential elements of intermediate metabolism of the main biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogen compounds), the energetic modifications associated with them, their interrelations and metabolic and hormonal regulations, as well as the localization and cellular compartmentalization of the main metabolic pathways; the specialization of various human organs and tissues in metabolic activities as a prerequisite for understanding their specific functions; the molecular mechanisms of regulation of cellular activity with particular regard to intracellular signal transduction and the function of hormones, other extracellular messengers and vitamins at the metabolic and genetic level; the molecular bases of human nutrition and nutrigenomics necessary to understand the role of nutrients contained in foods on the metabolic homeostasis of cells and tissues.

Course contents

amino acids and proteins, conformation and function of proteins, enzymes

Teaching methods

In-person lectures

Assessment methods

multiple choice quiz

Teaching tools

Slides, handouts

Office hours

See the website of Giulio Agnetti