- Docente: Alessandra Pagliarani
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/10
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Animal production and control of wildlife (cod. 0875)
Course contents
Constitution and organization of living matter. Biomolecules: structure and function of lipids, glucides, nucleotides and nucleic acids, aminoacids and proteins. Coenzymes and vitamins. Enzymes and basic concepts of enzyme kinetics. Allosteric regulation: haemoglobin. Biomembranes: structure, function and transport systems. General pattern of animal metabolism. Glucides: digestion, absorption and overall metabolism. Glycolysis and fermentation. Krebs cycle as metabolic core. Basic concepts of bioenergetics: energy conversion and utilization. ATP structure and function. Respiratory chain and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Comparison between mitochondrial respiration and photosynthesis. Pentose cycle. Gluconeogenesis. Gycogen metabolism. Lipids: digestion, absorption and overall metabolism. Fatty acids: beta-oxidation and biosynthesis. Chetogenesis. Biosynthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol (overview). Steroid and xenobiotic metabolism. Aminoacids and proteins: digestion, absorption, transport and catabolism. Nucleotides and nucleic acids: biosynthesis of nucleotides (overview), DNA and RNA. Protein synthesis. Metabolic peculiarities of ruminants. Safety in the biochemical lab. Principles of selected analytical methods in the biochemical lab: centrifugation, chromatography, UV-visible spectrophotometry, electrophoresis.
Readings/Bibliography
Recommended books:
- D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox. Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger. Zanichelli. 2003.
- Catani M.V., Savini I, Guerrieri P., Avigliano L. Appunti di Biochimica per le lauree triennali. Piccin 2008.
Other useful books:
- D. Voet, J.G. Voet., C.W. Pratt. Fondamenti di Biochimica. Zanichelli, 2006.
- W. Muller-Esterl. Biochimica per studenti di scienze della vita. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2007.
- P.C. Champe, R.A. Harvey, D.R. Ferrier. Le basi della biochimica. Zanichelli, 2006.
- M. Stefani, N. Taddei. Chimica, Biochimica e biologia applicata. Zanichelli, 2004.
Copies of transparencies and slides used during the course are available.
Teaching methods
Lessons on the subjects listed in the programme will be illustrated by slides, videos and transparencies. Practicals and tutorials on selected subjects will be carried out also with the aid of molecular models.
Assessment methods
Oral test. Written tests may be carried out during the course.
Teaching tools
Videoprojector, Transparency projector, PC, molecular models
Office hours
See the website of Alessandra Pagliarani