00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows what the metabolic pathways used in the human body to meet the structural, energy and tissue-specific needs of the cells, with particular reference to the stomatognathic apparatus. In particular, the student is able to: understand the strategies and goals biologicals that make the various phases of metabolism (anabolism, intermediate metabolism, catabolism) interdependent; to know the metabolic pathways through which biological matter is transformed, locating the sites of reactions in the cell, tissue, and organs context, with more reference to the stomatognathic apparatus; to know the processes of production and utilization of energy in the cell and the role played by mitochondria; to recognize the mechanisms of regulation of the major enzymatic reactions in relation to the cellular metabolism and the more general homeostasis of the human body; to use biochemical knowledge to identify and understand some important metabolic processes that regulate the physiology and physiopathology of the stomatognathic apparatus.

Course contents

 

General and metabolic biochemistry

Enzymology - General structure and classification of enzymes. Coenzymes. Enzyme-substrate interactions. Enzyme kinetics. Activation energy, transition state and intermediate states. Michaelis-Menten's equation. Steady state. Meaning of Km, Vmax and kcat. Linear graphs of enzymatic kinetics. Unit of measure of enzymatic activity. Enzymatic regulation mechanisms. Allosteric enzymes and their kinetics. Cooperative effect. Reversible and irreversible enzymatic inhibition.

Introduction to Metabolism - Anabolism and Catabolism. Van't Hoff isothermal equation. Coupling between exo-endoergonomic reactions. ATP hydrolysis and phosphate transfer potential.

Glucid metabolism - Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Metabolic targets of glucose, fructose and galactose. Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis. Reversible and irreversible glycolytic reactions. Glycolic flow regulation enzymes. Phosphorus phosphinase 1 and 2. Glycolysis energy. The pathway of phosphate pentoses: production of NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate. Glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase. Gluconeogenesis: Glucose synthesis sites, major precursors and enzymatic reactions. Cory's cycle. Glycogenogenesis and glycogenolysis. Hormone regulation of glucose metabolism.


Lipid metabolism - Digestion and lipid absorption. Plasma lipoproteins. Lipolysis and its hormonal regulation. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Role of carnitine. Ketogenesis. Biosynthesis of fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol. Adjustment of HMG-CoA reductase. Statins. Synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Adjustment of cyclooxygenase. Effect of glucocorticoids on the synthesis of eicosanoids.

Amino Acid and Protein Metabolism - Digestion and Protein Absorption. Intracellular protein degradation. Proteasome. Transamination and desamination. Ammonia transport to the liver. Alan cycle. Role of glutamine and asparagine. Urea cycle. Glycogenic and ketogenic amino acids.

Nucleotide metabolism - Digestion of nucleic acids. Degradation of purines and pyrimidines. Nucleobase recovery path. Forms of hyperuricaemia.

Mitochondrial metabolism - Piruvate dehydrogenase. Cycle of citric acid and its metabolic interrelations. Complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mitchell's chemo-osmotic theory. Cycle of Coenzyme Q. Electrochemistry of the respiratory chain. Transport of mitochondrial reducing equivalents. Respiratory control. Oxygen and cellular nitrogen reactive species. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.

Hormones - General characteristics of hormones of amino acid, peptide and steroid. Mechanism of action of cellular hormones according to their structure. Structure, receptors and mechanism of action of insulin. Glucogenic and cytogenetic disorders in diabetes.

Vitamins - Water-soluble and liposoluble vitamins: structure, functions, mechanism of action and major caries manifestations.

Biochemistry of hemostasis - Molecular mechanisms of platelet aggregation and blood coagulation.

 

Dental Biochemistry Insights

Salivary Enzymes
Fermentation in the oral cavity biofilm
Diabetes and oral cavity injuries
Biochemical laboratory techniques

Readings/Bibliography

M. Lieberman, A.D. Marks. Biochimica medica. Un approccio clinico. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

D.B. Ferguson. Biologia del cavo orale. Istologia, Biochimica, Fisiologia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Teaching methods

Frontal learning and insights on specific topics related to the odontostomatological apparatus.

Assessment methods

In order to gain access to Biochemistry you must have passed the Chemistry test. The verification of the Biochemistry program's learning takes place through a written test that ensures the acquisition of the knowledge and skills expected, followed by its correction and the explanation of the mistakes made in the presence of the student. The test is to answer both open questions and multiple-choice questions. The final evaluation is expressed in as a final vote for C.I. Chemistry and Biochemistry. The attendance rate is verified by appending the signature of the student on the attendance sheet.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC. Availability of lecture presentations in electronic format.

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Muscari