- Docente: Francesca Danesi
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/10
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Animal Production (cod. 8882)
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from Feb 23, 2023 to May 25, 2023
Learning outcomes
The learning goal of this course is to give students the knowledge necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the life and the transformations of organic compounds. At the end of the course, the student should be able to understand the structural characteristics of biological molecules (proteins, lipids and carbohydrate) and enzyme functionality.
Course contents
Biological chemistry and biomolecules.
Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
Lipids: simple, complex, and derived lipids.
Water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins: structure, properties, biological role.
Nucleic acids: structure and function of DNA and RNA. Overview on DNA duplication, transcription and translation.
Proteins and amino acids: amino acid structure, peptide bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Biological functions of proteins: hemoglobin and oxygen transport.
Enzymes: catalytic power, specificity, and regulation. Coenzymes, cofactors and prosthetic groups. Enzyme specificity and regulation. Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions: Michaelis-Menten model. Enzyme inhibition. Allosteric enzymes. Regulation of enzyme activity.
Metabolism: Catabolism and anabolism. Regulation and compartmentalization.
Glycolysis and its regulation. Gluconeogenesis and its regulation. Glycogen metabolism. Pentose phosphate pathway.
The TCA cycle.
Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.
Fatty acid metabolism: fatty acid β-oxidation. Ketone bodies. Fatty acid biosynthesis.
Nitrogen metabolism: amino acid catabolism, transamination, and oxidative deamination. Urea cycle.
Readings/Bibliography
Textbooks:
Terry A. Brown “Conoscere la Biochimica” Zanichelli.
David L. Nelson e Michael M. Cox “Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger” Zanichelli.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
Multiple-choice questions.
The exam takes place in person.
Teaching tools
PowerPoint slides. Audio-visual aids. e-learning platforms.
Materials are available to students in the e-learning platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en).
Office hours
See the website of Francesca Danesi
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.