66942 - Bio-Organic Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The student will gain a good knowledge of bio-organic chemistry, that includes the structure and reactivity of biological molecules, such as peptides, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The student will also study the most important metabolic pathways (both anabolism and katabolism), including all the reaction mechanisms.

Course contents

Structure and function of the main classes of biomolecules: lipids, carbohydrates, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes and coenzymes.
The role of enzymes in metabolism
Carbohydrate metabolism

• Polysaccharides transformation
• Glycolysis
• Pyruvate transformations and production of acetyl-CoA, lactic acid, ethanol
• The pathway of pentose phosphates
• Gluconeogenesis
• Photosynthetic production of glucose: the Calvin-Benson cycle

Transformation of acetyl-CoA

• Krebs cycle
• Anaplerotic pathways

Redox electron transfer processes

• Respiratory chains
• Photosynthetic processes
• Coupled phosphorylation

Metabolism of lipids

• Cleavage and synthesis of acyl-glycerols  
• Beta-oxidation of fatty acids
• Biogenesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
• Formation of isopentenyl diphosphate through the  MEV and the MEP routes
• Biogenesis of terpenes, squalene and carotenoids
• Formation of of lanosterol its conversion into steroids

Metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds

• Hydrolysis of peptides
• Deamination of amino acids: the aminotransferases
• Elimination of amino groups and the urea cycle
• Trasformations of the skeleton of some aminoacids
• Essential and not-essential amminoacids and biogenesis of some aminoacids
• The shikimic acid pathway for the synthesis of aromatic moieties
• Biogenesis of pirimidine nucleotides
• Biogenesis of purine nucleotides

Metabolism of polynucleic acids and protein synthesis

• Nucleotids coupling and bascis on the structure of DNA and RNA
• Duplication of DNA
• Polymerace Chain Reaction (PCR) ans sequencing of DNA
• Transcription of DNA into RNA
• Types of RNA; ribosomes
• The genetic code
• Ribosomial protein synthesis

Biosynthesis of some natural substances

• Biosynthesis of ciamamtes and some hints on lignin
• Biosynthesis of prostanoids and leucotrienes, arachidonic acid cascade, COX
• (if possilbe) Biosynthesis of Porfirines

Readings/Bibliography

Chimica Bio-organica - John McMurry, Tadhg Begley - Zanichelli
I principi di biochimica di Lehninger sesta edizione - David. L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox - Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lecture and discussion. Videoprojection.

Assessment methods

Written test including both open and multiple choice questions. The test is aimed to assess the knowledge aquired by the student about the structure and the transsformations typical of the organic chemistry of biological systems. Usually, the test comprises 10 questions,  accountig from 2 to 4 points each.

For students of the academic year 2017/18 or earlier, or after a specific and guistified request, it is possible to make an oral exam

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC, blackboard

Office hours

See the website of Emilio Tagliavini