00062 - Applied Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to give a basic knowledge about the major techniques and principles which underlie biochemical experiments and clinical analysis 

Course contents

Applied Biochemistry 1- Prof. Silvana Hrelia 3 ECTS

General principles of biochemical investigations: methods for investigating metabolism, in vivo models, in vitro models, primary cell cultures and cell lines.

Spectrophotometric methods: ultraviolet and visible light spectroscopy (principles, instrumentation, applications).

Spectrofluorimetry: principles, instrumentation, applications. Fluorescent probes.

Radioisotopic techniques: the nature of radioactivity, interaction with matter, detection and measurement, instrumentation, safety aspects, application of radioisotopes in the biological sciences.

Electrophoretic techniques: general principles, instrumentation, support media, electrophoresis of plasma proteins.

Immunochemical techniques: antibodies and their production, antisera, immunoprecipitation and immunodiffusion, RIA, IRMA. Labelling with enzymes: EMIT, ELISA, PEIA. Pregnancy test.

Basic techniques in molecular biology: manipulation of nucleic acids, the polymerase chain reaction, nucleic acid blotting methods, protein blotting methods. Gene expression analysis: the DNA microarray technique. Large scale protein expression analysis: the proteomic approach.

Applied Biochemistry 2- Dott. Marco Malaguti 2 ECTS

Measurements of enzyme activity: enzyme steady state kinetics, enzyme inhibitors, enzyme assays.

Spectrophotometric analysis of enzyme activity: lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, amino transferase, acetylcholinesterase. Organ metabolic profile: heart, liver, pancreas. Spectrophotometric analysis of plasma metabolites: glucose and cholesterol.

A practical class (1 ECTS) will deal with laboratory experiments and clinical applications: cell culture, spectophotometric analysis of protein content and enzyme acitivity

Readings/Bibliography

K. WILSON, J. WALKER. Principles and techniques of practical biochemistry. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2005

Teaching methods

During the course the major biochemical techniques will be discussed, in both theoretical and practical aspects. Examples and problems will be discussed with the students. A practical class (1 ECTS- october-november 2018) will deal with laboratory experiments and clinical applications (Biological laboratory, Via Bastioni Settentrionali, 45 Rimni). Aim of the practical class is to make the student familiar with the laboratory equipments for biological/biochemical analyses and develop the student's ability to analyze the major metabolites of clinical interest described in theoretical lessons

Assessment methods

The examination at the end of the course aims to assess the achievement of learning objectives:
-  to know the main techniques used in biological and biochemical studies
- To know the clinical significance of the dosage of the main plasma metabolites
- to Know and apply the main analysis protocols used in biochemistry laboratories

Examination consists of an oral examination on both modules, which can not be broken down into moments of verification separated. The final vote is defined by an oral test with three questions, two on the arguments of the first module, one  on the arguments of the second one, aimed at assessing the theoretical knowledge of the student about biochemical methodologies and the possibility to apply them to clinical analysis. Registration is required by Alma Esami.

Teaching tools

PC, overhead projector, biological laboratory

Office hours

See the website of Silvana Hrelia

See the website of Marco Malaguti