Unit BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

BIOCHEMISTRY

Code	GP003685
CFU	5
Teacher	Lara Macchioni
Teachers	Lara Macchioni
Hours	30 ore - Lara Macchioni
Learning activities	Base
Area	Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico
Academic discipline	BIO/10
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Structure and chemical properties of biological molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins. Enzymes. Carbohydrate metabolism. Lipid metabolism. Protein and nucleic acids metabolism.
Reference texts	Biochimica Medica - Siliprandi e Tettamanti - Piccin editore I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger - Nelson, Cox. V edizione - Zanichelli
Educational objectives	The main aim of this module is to provide students with the knowledge of the structure and fundamental properties of biomolecules and to provide students with the knowledge on the function of enzymes and coenzymes and on the general organization of cellular metabolism. Main knowledge acquired will be: • structure and function of cell macromolecules (proteins, sugars, lipids, and nucleic acids); • ability to understand the basic mechanisms of molecular transformations in cells; • enzyme kinetics and regulation, molecular mechanisms of coenzymes; • organization of cell metabolism and energy transfer in biochemical transformations; • mitochondrial oxidations and ATP synthesis; • ability to understand the mechanisms of energy production in cells through the mitochondrial respiration; • Carbohydrate metabolism. Lipid metabolism. Protein and nucleic acids metabolism.
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this course, knowledge of the subjects studied in the course of Chemistry is mandatory.
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures.
Other information	See web site http://www.clmopd.unipg.it
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of an oral examination. The oral exam, lasting about 30 min, consists generally of three questions and aims to assess the level of Biochemistry knowledge, the ability to make connections and to integrate knowledge, also in relation to the professional activity. The oral exam will also test the student communication skills.
Extended program	Structure and chemical properties of biological molecules. CARBOHYDRATES - Monosaccharides and disaccharides. Omopolysaccharides (cellulose, starch and glycogen). Heteropolysaccarides. LIPIDS - Fatty acids, acylglycerols, phospholipids, and glycolipids. Polyprenoids and cholesterol. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES and NUCLEIC ACIDS. PROTEINS - Structure and properties of aminoacids. Peptide bond. Polypeptides. Structural hierarchy of proteins: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Denaturation of proteins. Globular proteins. Fibrous proteins (Collagen, Keratin, Elastin). Myoglobin (structure and function). Hemoglobin (structure and function). Molecular mechanisms of oxygen transport. Hemoglobin and allosterism: effect of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Bohr effect. Buffering properties of haemoglobin. Role of hemoglobin in direct and indirect carbon dioxide transport. Glycated hemoglobin. Other hemoglobins. ENZYMES - General concepts. Classification of enzymes. Mechanism of catalysis. The enzyme specificity: the active site. Kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Competitive and non-competitive inhibition. Regulation of enzymatic activity. VITAMINS and COENZYMES - Water-soluble vitamins (Ascorbic acid, Biotin, Niacin, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Folic acid, B12). Vitamin-like compounds (Choline, Carnitine, Taurine). Coenzymes. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF BILOGICAL MEMBRANES - Composition and structure of membranes. Movement of molecules through membranes. Channels and pores. Passive mediated transport system. Active mediated transport system. Na+, K+-ATPase pump. METABOLIC BIOCHEMISTRY - Catabolism and anabolism. Bioenergetics. High-energy phosphate compounds and the role of ATP. Metabolic pathways. Pyruvate dehydrogenase. Krebs cycle: metabolic role and regulation. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Respiratory chain inhibitors and uncouplers. CARBOHYDRATES METABOLISM - Digestion of carbohydrates. Transport and absorption of glucose across membranes. Hexokinase and glucokinase. Metabolic fate of glucose-6-phosphate. Metabolism of glycogen (glycogenesis and glycogenolysis; regulation of glycogen metabolism in muscle and liver). Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of glucose. Gluconeogenesis (reactions and regulations, Cori cycle). Mechanisms for the reoxidation of cytosolic NADH: malate/aspartate and glycerol phosphate shuttles. Pentose phosphate pathway (reactions of oxidative phase. Glycemia regulation. Glucuronic acid (synthesis and regulation). Hormonal regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. LIPID METABOLISM - Digestion and absorption of lipids. Transport of lipids in blood plasma. Properties, function, and metabolism of lipoproteins, chilomicron, VLDL, LDL, HDL. Oxidation of fatty acids (activation, transport into mitochondria and beta-oxidation). Ketogenesis and utilization of ketone bodies. Essential and non essential fatty acids. Biosynthesis of fatty acids. Metabolism of acylglycerols. Metabolism of phospholipids. Metabolism of cholesterol. Hormonal regulation of lipid metabolism (insulin, glucagon and adrenalin). METABOLIS OF PROTEINS AND AMINOACIDS - Nutritional value of proteins. Nitrogen balance. Essential and non-essential amino acids. Digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids. Transamination. Oxidative and non-oxidative deamination. Metabolic fate of ammonia. Urea cycle. Role of glutamine and alanine. Glucogenetic and ketogenetic amino acids.

Clinical biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology

Code	50585801
CFU	1
Teacher	Barbara Cellini
Teachers	Barbara Cellini
Hours	6 ore - Barbara Cellini
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Diagnostica di laboratorio
Academic discipline	BIO/12
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Definition of Clinical Biochemistry. Evaluation of clinical analyses. Basic diagnostic tests. Glucose homeostasis and diabetes. Serum enzymes. Tumor Markers. Hemochromocytometric examination. Urinary profile.
Reference texts	Introduzione alla Biochimica Patologica e Clinica - Lauro Galzigna - PICCIN
Educational objectives	The acquired knowledge will be:   Basic general knowledge of clinical and molecular biochemistry
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of Clinical Biochemistry and clinical Molecular Biology, the basic knowledge of biochemistry and molecular Biology is required.
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures.
Other information	Perugia-School of Medicine-S. Andrea delle Fratte
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of an oral examination relative to the modules of the integrated course
Extended program	Definition of Clinical Biochemistry. Evaluation of analyrical quality: precision, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, linearity. Predictive value. Pre-analytic variability. Pre-laboratory variability. Basic diagnostic analyses. Biochemical profile. Glucose homeostasis and hormone regulation. Diabetes. Glycemia. Methods of determination of glucose. Study of plasma proteins to obtain information on the state of health. Protein electrophoresis. Enzymes (outline): classification. Isozymes. Hepatic, muscular, cardiac, pancreatic, prostate and bone enzymes. Method of measurement of enzymatic activities. Tumor markers (overview): concept of an ideal marker. Humoral and tissue markers. Hemochromocytometric examination (outline). Urinary profile.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Code	50595802
CFU	2
Teacher	Lanfranco Corazzi
Teachers	Lanfranco Corazzi
Hours	12 ore - Lanfranco Corazzi
Learning activities	Base
Area	Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico
Academic discipline	BIO/11
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Metabolism of nucleotides. Metabolism of nucleic acids. Synthesis and post-translational modifications of proteins. Nucleic acids. Molecular biology techniques
Reference texts	Biochimica Medica - Siliprandi e Tettamanti - Piccin Editore
Educational objectives	Main knowledge acquired will be: -metabolism of nucleotides and nucleic acids; -synthesis and post-translational modifications of proteins; The main competence will be: -have a general view of the metabolic pathways of nucleotides, nucleic acids, and proteins, also considering their clinical and pharmacological implications.
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this course, knowledge of the subjects studied in the course of Chemistry is mandatory.
Teaching methods	meetings in the classroom for clarifications and insights.
Other information	Perugia – Scholl of Medicine- S. Andrea delle Fratte Exams: See web site http://www.med.unipg.it/ccl/
Learning verification modality	The exam is in oral form lasting about 30 min: It consists generally of three questions. The evaluation is aimed to assess the level of Biochemistry knowledge, the ability to make connections and to integrate knowledge, also in relation to the professional activity. The oral exam will also test the student communication skills.
Extended program	NUCLEOTIDES. Purines and Pirimidines bases. Nucleosides and Nucleotides. Biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides and its regulation. Deoxyribonucleotide formation. Thymidylate synthase. Purine and pyrimidine nucleotide catabolism. NUCLEIC ACIDS. Structure of DNA and RNA. Enzymes involved in DNA replication in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mechanisms of replication. Mechanisms of DNA polymerase and DNA ligase. Inverse transcriptase. Mutation mechanisms and DNA repair. Enzymes for RNA synthesis. DNA transcription. Post-transcriptional processing of RNA. Catabolism of nucleic acids. Molecular biology techniques. Recombinant DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Modification and restriction enzymes. DNA sequencing. Microarrays SYNTHESIS AND POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS OF PROTEINS. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Mechanisms of protein biosynthesis in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Post-translational processing. Export of proteins and secretory pathway. Inhibitors of protein synthesis. Collagen. Glycoproteins biosynthesis.