At the end of the course students must know: structure and functions of biological molecules and supramolecular structures; metabolic pathways that lead to energy production, main biosynthetic processes and their regulation; general features of signal transduction.
At the end of the course students must understand: the relationships between structure and function in biological molecules; the complexity of biosignaling that regulate and coordinate metabolic pathways and gene expression.
Students will have to know how to apply all the information acquired during the course to understand the molecular basis of pathologies and their treatments.
Course Prerequisites
Deep knowledge of Chemistry, Physics and Biology
Teaching Methods
Teaching consists of frontal lectures usig power-point presentions.
Lecturers are available for any clarifications upon request.
Slides shown during lectures, detailed program and additional information are available on the KIRO platform.
Assessment Methods
Students can access the final written assessment including multiple choice questions and open questions which will be focused on all the topics included in the modules of Elements of Biochemistry, Cellular 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 (seconda edizione, Zanichelli).
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
Contents
Biological Membranes: structure and organization of biological membranes; lipids and membrane proteins. Transport of solutes across membranes. For selected course topics, chosen for their particular relevance and in light of recent scientific discoveries, students will be required to present and discuss in class articles published in international scientific journals.
