37200 - Chemistry andBiochemistry I (LZ-D)

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

Structure and properties of carbohydrates and lipids

Carbohydrates. Monosaccharides: aldoses and ketoses, in linear and cyclic forms. Anomers. Glycosidic bonds. Disaccharides and polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, glycosaminoglycans). Glycoconiugates.

Neutral and polar Lipids: triacylglycerols and other acylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphingophospholipids, glycosphingolipids, cholesterol and cholesterol esters. Lipids and biological membranes. Isoprenoids.

 

Cofactors and coenzymes

General properties and main coenzymes that serve as carries of electrons and functional groups.

 

Thermodynamic aspects of biochemical processes and cellular bioenergetics

Laws of thermodynamics and biological systems; Gibbs free energy and chemical potential; relationship between equilibrium constants and standard free-energy changes of chemical reactions. Thermodynamics and transmembrane transport systems.

Coupled reactions and high energy compounds; phosphoryl group transfer potential; ATP role; ortho- and pyrophosphoric cleavage and mode of usage of ATP for energy transfer; redox reactions and free-energy changes.

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

Knowledge of Chemistry and General Biochemistry will be assessed with a written examination. Candidates will be given 2 hours to complete 3 open-ended questions on general chemistry and 44 multiple choice questions (1 right answer over 4 possible choices), of which: 11 on amino acids, proteins and enzymes; 11 on sugars, lipids, co-enzymes and bioenergetics; and 11 on nucleic acids. Every part of the test will be evaluated by the teacher who had covered that portion of the program. Every partial evaluation will contribute with a proportional weight in CFU to determine the score of the 1stsemester (9 credits total) expressed in 30/30 (with the possibility of cum laude).


The score of Chemistry and General Biochemistry (1stsemester) will be annotated on Alma esami and will proportionally contribute to the single, final score of the C.I. Biochemistry (1st+ 2ndsemester), which will be registered. It is mandatory to pass the examination that covers the 1stsemester program in order to be able to take the (oral) examination covering that of the 2ndsemester. The score from the 1stsemester examination will be valid for 2 years.


Candidates will be allowed to bring a periodic table and calculator along.

Teaching tools

ppt slides

Office hours

See the website of Flavio Flamigni