500191 - BIOCHEMISTRY

courses

ID:

500191

Duration (hours):

72

CFU:

SSD:

BIOCHIMICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The aims include: the knowledge of the structure and function of the major macromolecules of biological interest with particular attention to the structural-functional relationships; the understanding of the metabolic processes and energetic pathways in the living cell and the mechanism for regulation and integration of the metabolism; the understanding of the mechanisms and signal transduction pathways for cellular communication

Course Prerequisites

Good knowledge on General and Organic Chemistry. The courses of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry (first year) are propedeutic for Biochemistry

Teaching Methods

lectures in the classroom illustrated by with Power Point slides, that will be made available to the students on the Kiro platform

Assessment Methods

Written test with different kind of questions (multiple choice, open question, text to be completed). It will also include description and illustration of chemical structures and metabolic pathways. Each question will have a specific, variable score, depending on the complexity and importance of the topic. The test will be evaluate on a scale from 0 to 30. The test will last 90 minutes. No books, notes, calculators or any other material or devices are allowed.

Texts

Nelson DL, COX, MM : I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, VIII edition, 2022; Zanichelli
Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L: Biochimica, VIII edition, 2020, Zanichelli;
Campbell, Farrell: Biochimica, V edizione 2019 Edises,
Appling DR et al: Biochimica Molecole e metabolismo I edizione 2017, Pearson
Bassi R, Boffi A, et al: Biochimica, I edizione 2019 Edi-Ermes

Part 1. Structural and chemical features of amino acids. Peptides. Methods for analysis of protein biochemistry. Three dimensional structure of proteins. Collagens and immunogloblins. Proteins in oxygen binding and transport: myoglobin and hemoglobin. Enzymes. Mechanisms of catalysis. Vitamins and coenzymes. Enzyme kinetics and mechanisms of regulation. Allosteric enzymes. Monosaccharides and polysaccharides. Proteoglycans and glycoproteins. Structural lipids and storage lipids. Lipids in the biological membranes. Membrane proteins: structure and function.

Part 2. Principles of bioenergetics. The role of ATP and phosphate group transfers. The importance of biological oxidations. The citric acid cycle. Oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. The chemiosmotic model. Regulation of mitochondrial function and ATP synthesis. Carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis. Gluconeogenesis. Glycogen metabolism. Shunt of pentose phosphate. Regulation of glucose metabolism in the liver and muscle under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.. Lipids metabolism. b-oxidation of fatty acids. The ketone bodies. Biosynthesis of fatty acid. Biosynthesis of fatty acid, triacilglicerols and phospholipids. Regulation of lipids metabolism. Amino acid catabolism. Transaminases. The urea cycle. General concepts on amino acids degradation. Protein synthesis. Hormonal regulation of fuel metabolism. insulin and glucagon. Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction.