76037 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be aware of the basis of Biochemistry.

Course contents

Biochemistry

Concept of general chemistry

Definition of solution. Self-ionization of water. Hydrogen binding. Solubility. Osmotic pressure. pH. Strength of acids and bases. Dissociation equilibrium of acids and bases. K_a and K_b. Buffer solutions.

Carbohydrates

Mono- saccharide. Glycosidic binding. Di-saccharide. Poly-saccharide. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Proteoglycans. Starch. Glycogen. Cellulose.

Nucleotides and nucleic acids

Nucleobases. Pentoses. Phosphodiester bond. Structure of nucleic acids. Nucleotides with energetic and regulative functions. Adenosine containing cofactors.

Amino acids and proteins

Amino acid structure. Peptide bond. The four structural levels of proteins. Structural motifs. Alfa keratin and collagen. Domains.

Lipids

Saturated, unsaturated, and essential fatty acids. Triglycerides. Structural lipids. Phospholipids. Glycolipids. Signal lipids. Cholesterol. Prostaglandin. Leukotriene. Liposoluble vitamin.

Enzymology

Enzymes. Apoenzymes, cofactors, and coenzymes. Enzyme-substrate complex. Activation energy. Enzyme kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Regulation of enzymatic activity.

Glucose metabolism

Aerobic and anerobic glycolysis. Energetic yield of glycolysis. Regulation of glycolysis. Glycogen. Bacterial fermentation. Introduction to hormonal modulation glucose metabolism enzymes.

Oxidative phosphorylation and Krebs cycle

Pyruvate oxidation. Krebs cycle reactions. Respiratory chain and electron flow. ATP synthase and synthesis of ATP.

Readings/Bibliography

Nelson e Cox, Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger, Ed. Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

Written examination. The knowledge of molecule structures and biochemical pathways will be evaluated as detailed during lessons.

Teaching tools

Supplemental material is provided during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Giorgio