- Docente: Gabriele Hakim
- Credits: 3
- SSD: BIO/10
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Industrial Chemistry (cod. 0013)
Learning outcomes
The aim of the Course is to give a basic knowledge about the structure and functions of the major biological molecules and organisms. Concepts related to biocatalysis will be discussed in deep. General principles about how DNA is replicated and how the information directs the synthesis of RNA and proteins will be discussed. An overview to metabolism will be given, in order to allow the understanding of fermentation processes.
Course contents
Amino acids and Proteins. Properties and stereochemistry of amino acids. Primary structure of proteins. Secondary structure. Fibrous and globular proteins. Protein folding. Tertiary and Quaternary structure.
A model for structure and function of proteins: hemoglobin. Structure and mechanism. Allosteric regulation.
Mechanisms of enzyme action. Enzyme properties. Coenzymes. Catalytic mechanisms. An example: the serine proteases.
Enzyme kinetics. Inhibition. Design of enzyme inhibitors as drugs. Regulation of enzymatic activity.
Sugars. Monosaccharides and polysaccharides.
Lipids and biological membranes. Lipid classification. Structure and properties of biological membranes. Thermodynamics, kinetics and mechanisms of membrane transport. Facilitative transport and ATP-driven active transport
Nucleotides and nucleic acids. Structure and functions of nucleotides. Double helical DNA. Forces stabilizing DNA structure. DNA is the carrier of genetic information.
DNA replication. DNA Replication in prokaryotes. Enzymes and mechanism of replication.
Transcription. The role of RNA in protein synthesis. RNA polymerase. Control of transcription in prokaryotes.
Translation. The genetic code. Transfer RNA and its aminoacylation. Ribosomes and protein synthesis.
Introduction to metabolism. Metabolic pathways. Thermodynamics of “high-energy” compounds. Coupled reactions. The glycolytic pathway: an overview. The anaerobic fate of pyruvate: introduction to fermentation.
Readings/Bibliography
Voet, D, Voet, JG and Pratt, CW - Fondamenti di Biochimica - Zanichelli 2001
Voet, D, Voet, JG and Pratt, Fundamentals of Biochemistry, Wiley
CW Nelson, DL and Cox, MM - Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger - Zanichelli 2003
CW Nelson, DL and Cox, MM - Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, W.H. Freeman
Teaching methods
Properties of major biochemical structures will be discussed, together with chemical reactions involved in metabolic processes. General topics will be related to examples in Microbiology and Pharmaceutical/Food Industry
Assessment methods
The examen aims to ascertain the acquired knowledge on the discussed topics, especially as far as the structure-function relationship in biological systems is concerned.
Teaching tools
Slides accompanying the Course are available in the Net.
Links to further information
http://www.biocfarm.unibo.it/hakim
Office hours
See the website of Gabriele Hakim