BIOCHEMISTRY

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2013/2014

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

Bachelor's Degree Programme in BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Segments:

BIOCHEMISTRY

1 credits
BIOCHEMISTRY

1 credits
BIOCHEMISTRY

7 credits

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

MANCA Laura

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

The student must have already completed the course of organic chemistry

AF code:

40000242

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

Interim assessment tests reserved for students attending and final oral examination.

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

To provide students with the knowledge to the study of the biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolic pathways aimed at a comprehensive understanding of the metabolism, energy requirements and metabolic regulation in living cells.
These objectives are a prerequisite for the understanding of biological phenomena at the molecular level and of the principles of fundamental chemical and biochemical methods of investigation.

Contents

Course introduction. Carbohydrates, Nucleotides, Lipids: review of structure, nomenclature, physical properties. Peptides: chemistry, structure of the peptide bond, biological activities of peptides; Protein structure; primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. Protein function: ligand binding; allostery; regulation. Enzyme mechanisms; Enzyme regulation: allosteric and covalent. Membranes. Principles of bioenergetics: free-energy changes in biology. Introduction to metabolism. ATP and phosphoryl group transfers: chemistry and biology. Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism and metabolic regulation. Pyruvate oxidation and the citric acid cycle; oxidation of fatty acids. ATP synthesis coupled to mitochondrial electron transfer.

Recommended Bibliography

Choose one of the following texts:
D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox - I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger. Ed. Zanichelli, 5th edition, 2012.
R.H. Garrett, C.M. Grisham -Principles of Biochemistry (with a human focus ). Ed. Piccin, 5th edition 2010
C.K. Mathew, K.E. van Holde - Biochemistry . Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 4th edition, 2013.
D. Voet, J.G. Voet - Biochemistry . Ed. Zanichelli, 2007.
Text of reference for laboratory practice: C. De Marco, C. Cini - Principi di metodologia biochimica. Cap. 24. Ed. Piccin-Nuova Libraria, 2009.

Teaching Methods

Class exercises throughout the course to verify the progress in the learning of the discipline.
Laboratory work includes topics on the principles of electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. In particular, absorption spectra, determination of the concentration with the calibration line, Bradford method, separation of the whey proteins and human hemoglobins by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate.

Contacts/More Information

1) Readiness to offer individual assistance also in english language to incoming students
2) Availability of supporting material and bibliographic references also in english language
List: Teaching material used for lessons and not present in the texts recommended.

3) Readiness to accept examination of incoming students also in english language

BIOCHEMISTRY

Course year: 1

Course year: 2

Course year: 3

Search form

BIOCHEMISTRY