500431 - GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY (A-L)

courses

ID:

500431

Duration (hours):

87.5

CFU:

SSD:

BIOCHIMICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 05/06/2026)

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students with the necessary cognitive and methodological tools to understand the structure and functions of biological molecules and supramolecular structures; understand the metabolic pathways leading to energy production and the interconnections between them; understand biosynthetic pathways and their regulation; understand the modes of information transmission. At the end of the course, the student will have to: know the relationships between structure and function in biological molecules; know the chemical transformations that molecules undergo during catabolic or anabolic processes; know the complexity of biosignalling mechanisms that regulate and coordinate metabolic pathways and gene expression. The student should be able to apply all the information and skills acquired during the course to understanding the molecular basis of diseases and their treatments.

Course Prerequisites

In-depth knowledge of chemistry, physics and biology

Teaching Methods

Teaching consists of frontal lectures using power-point presentations. Slides shown during lectures, detailed program and additional information are available on the KIRO platform. Teachers are available for any clarifications upon request.

Assessment Methods

Students can access the final written assessment including multiple choice questions and open questions. The exam will be focused on the topics included in the modules of Elements of Biochemistry, Cellular Biochemistry A and Cellular Biochemistry B. The exam lasts 90 min. During assessment it will be evaluated how the student has integrated the knowledge acquired in the three modules in which the course is divided as well as the level of achievement of the educational objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding. Communication skills and use of appropriate scientific terminology will be evaluated during assessment.

Texts

D. Nelson, M. Cox. I principi di biochimica di Lehninger (Zanichelli, settima edizione). J. Berg, J. Tymoczko, G.J. Gatto, L. Stryer Biochimica (Zanichelli, ottava edizione). Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Charlotte W. Pratt. Fondamenti di Biochimica (Zanichelli). Thomas Devlin Biochimica con aspetti clinici (EdiSES). M Lieberman, A Marks, Biochimica Medica, un approccio clinico (Zanichelli, seconda edizione). For further studies: Watson et al. Biologia Molecolare del Gene (Zanichelli). Petsko, Ringe. Struttura e funzione delle proteine (Zanichelli). Alberts et al. Biologia Molecolare della cellula (Zanichelli). Duranti. Introduzione allo studio delle proteine (Zanichelli). All textbooks are available for consultation/loan at Biblioteca delle Scienze: http://biblioteche.unipv.it/home/biblioteche/biblioteca-delle-scienze Biblioteca.dellescienze@unipv.it

Proteins: amino acids and peptide bond; protein structures; denaturation and protein folding. Structure-function relationships: myoglobin and hemoglobin and their properties; structure and functions of fibrous proteins. Carbohydrates: storage and structural carbohydrates; glycoconjugates: glycoproteins and glycolipids. Lipids: storage and structural lipids; lipoproteins; fat-soluble vitamins. Enzymes: introduction to enzymes and general principles of catalysis; enzymatic kinetics; regulation of enzymatic activity; the principles of allostery; mechanism of action of the main cofactors (TPP, NAD, FAD, PLP, biotin, lipoate and Coenzyme A). Bioenergetics and thermodynamics: ATP and high-energy intermediates; biological oxidation-reduction reactions. The citric acid cycle. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Carbohydrates: glycolysis; gluconeogenesis; phosphogluconate pathway; glycogen metabolism. Lipids: oxidation of fatty acids; biosynthesis of fatty acids, triglycerides and membrane phospholipids; cholesterol biosynthesis; ketogenesis. Amino acids: metabolic fate of amino acids; urea cycle; phenylalanine metabolism; biosynthesis of catecholamines. Nucleotides: biosynthesis of ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides. Integration of glucose and lipid metabolism; glucose homeostasis. For selected course topics, chosen for their relevance and in light of recent scientific discoveries, students will be required to present and discuss in class articles published in international scientific journals.