37200 - Chemistry andBiochemistry I (LZ-B)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 8415)

Learning outcomes

The main objective of this course is to provide knowledge on the following subjects: general characteristics of chemical reactions (stoichiometry, kinetics and spontaneous reactions); properties of the chemical components in living organisms: structure and properties of simple and complex carbohydrates and lipids; thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and cellular bioenergetics; structural and functional properties of proteins; enzyme mechanism of action and kinetics; regulation of biochemical reactions rate;

structure of nucleic acids and the description of the mechanisms involved in DNA replication, transcription and translation (protein synthesis).

Course contents

Amminoacids - Review of the structure, classification and acid / base properties of amino acids.
Proteins - levels of structural organization: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure - structural characteristics and functional role of fibrous and globular proteins - thermodynamics and kinetics of polypeptide chain folding - denaturation of proteins and misfolding. Proteinopathies.
Oxygen carrying proteins - structure of the heme group - myoglobin and hemoglobin: structural characteristics and biological function - Mechanism of action: oxygen binding curve of hemoglobin myoglobin - allosterism and allosteric modulators (Bohr effect) of hemoglobin.
Enzymology - General information on enzymes - classification - enzymatic cofactors - isoenzymes - chemical and kinetic equilibrium of a chemical reaction - free energy diagram of a reaction: activation energy and transition state - mechanism of action of enzymes - catalytic mechanisms and strategies - Michaelis and Menten kinetics - irreversible and reversible inhibitors - effect of pH and temperature on enzymatic activity - mechanisms of regulation of enzymatic activity: covalent modification - proteolytic activation - allosterism.

Readings/Bibliography

Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry - David L Nelson, Michael M Cox

Marks Basic Medical Biochemistry - Michael Lieberman, Allan Marks

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The General Chemistry and Biochemistry exam includes:
- a written Chemistry test (3 CFU) consisting of 16 quizzes on general and organic chemistry topics.
- a written test in general biochemistry (6 CFU) consisting of 31 quizzes on the following topics: amino acids, proteins and enzymes (2 CFU); coenzymes, carbohydrates, lipids and bioenergetics (2 CFU); nucleic acids (2 CFU).
Each multiple choice quiz involves the choice of 4 answers, only one of which is correct and a score will be assigned. The General Chemistry and Biochemistry exam is passed if the student has acquired a sufficient assessment (18/30) in both written tests (Chemistry and Biochemistry, even in separate sessions).
The grades of Chemistry and General Biochemistry expressed out of 30 (with the possibility of honors in case of rounding to 31) will be noted on Alma exams and will compete with a weight proportional to the CFU to the final grade of the C.I. Biochemistry (I + II semester), which will be recorded. It is necessary to have passed both exams in Chemistry and General Biochemistry (1st semester) to take the (oral) exam for the part of the 2nd semester. The grades in Chemistry and General Biochemistry will normally remain valid for up to 1 year.
It is allowed to bring a calculator and a periodic table to the exam

Office hours

See the website of Giulio Agnetti