Unit BIOCHEMISTRY II

BIOCHEMISTRY II - MOD. 1

Code	GP005828
CFU	3
Teacher	Barbara Cellini
Teachers	Lara Macchioni (Codocenza)
Hours	37.5 ore (Codocenza) - 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	Introduction to metabolism. Terminal metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism. Lipid metabolism.
Reference texts	Biochimica Medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti - Piccin editore I principi di biochimica di Lehninger-Nelson, Cox – Zanichelli Editore Fondamenti di biochimica umana- Maccarrone- Zanichelli Editore
Educational objectives	Main knowledge acquired will be: -terminal metabolism of biological macromolecules -main metabolic transformations of carbohydrates and lipids; -regulation of anabolic and catabolic pathways of carbohydrates and lipids. The main competence will be: -understand the mechanisms of nutrient utilization for energy production and their interconversion. -basic competence on the biochemistry of nutrition.
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this course, knowledge of the subjects studied in the course of Chemistry and Biochemistry I is mandatory. In particular: structure of biomolecules, hemoglobin, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, molecular actions of coenzymes, general organization of metabolism, bioenergetics, terminal metabolism.
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures. - meetings in the classroom or online using the Teams platform, for clarifications and insights. During these meetings students will be required to solve multiple choice tests on the subjects already covered in the lectures. The tests will be discussed critically with the teacher.
Other information	See web site http://www.med.unipg.it/ccl/
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of a written test and an oral examination. The written, multiple choice test, comprises 30 questions covering all the topics of the teaching. The test lasts 60 minutes and is evaluated by assigning 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each question not answered, and applying a penalty of -0.25 points for every wrong answer. Students who achieve a score of at least 18/30 will be admitted to the oral exam. This test aims to assess the basic preparation to face the oral examination. The oral exam, lasting about 30 min, consists generally of three questions. The final evaluation takes into account mainly the oral exam, which 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	INTRODUCTION TO METABOLISM Introductory notes, references to catabolism and anabolism, references to bioenergetics. Organization and general properties of metabolic pathways. Metabolism regulation TERMINAL METABOLISM Origins of Acetyl Coenzyme A from the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. Reactions, metabolic role and regulation of the Krebs cycle. GLUCIDIC METABOLISM. Review of the structures and properties of simple and complex sugars. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Mechanisms of glucose transport across cell membranes. Exokinase and glucokinase. Metabolic fate of glucose-6-P. Glycolysis, reactions and energy balance. Regulation of glycolysis in various tissues. Fate of pyruvate in aerobic conditions. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Fate of pyruvate in anaerobic conditions. Isoenzymes of lactic dehydrogenase. Shuttle systems. Metabolism of fructose and galactose. Gluconeogenesis (reactions; energy balance; metabolic significance). Cori cycle or "muscle-liver" cycle. Coordinated regulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Pentose phosphate pathway (reactions of the oxidative and non-oxidative phases; regulation; glucose-6-P dehydrogenase deficiency). Glycogen metabolism (glycogenosynthesis; glycogenolysis; regulation of glycogen metabolism in muscle and liver; role of glycogen in various tissues). METABOLISM OF LIPIDS. Review of the structures and properties of lipids. Digestion and absorption of dietary lipids. Transport of lipids in the blood: characteristics, functions and metabolism of plasma lipoproteins. Enzymes involved in the metabolism of lipoproteins. molecular basis of familial hypercholesterolemia. Mobilization of triacylglycerols and catabolism of fatty acids (activation, transport to the mitochondrion; beta-oxidation; notes on other oxidation mechanisms). Synthesis and use of ketone bodies. Metabolic changes induced by fasting. Biosynthesis of fatty acids (citrate shuttle, malonyl CoA synthesis, regulatory mechanisms, unsaturation and elongation). Synthesis of triglycerides, phospholipids and sphingolipids. Biosynthesis of cholesterol and its regulation. Synthesis of bile acids and conjugation.

BIOCHEMISTRY II - MOD. 2

Code	GP005830
CFU	3
Teacher	Lara Macchioni
Teachers	Lara Macchioni
Hours	37.5 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	Protein and amino acid metabolism. Nucleotide metabolism. Nucleic acid metabolism. Synthesis and post-translational modifications of proteins
Reference texts	Biochimica Medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti - Piccin editore I principi di biochimica di Lehninger-Nelson, Cox – Zanichelli Editore Fondamenti di biochimica umana- Maccarrone- Zanichelli Editore
Educational objectives	The acquired knowledge will be: - main metabolic transformations of proteins and amino acids; - nucleotide synthesis and recycling routes. -property of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of nucleic acids -mechanisms of synthesis and modification of proteins The acquired knowledge should equip students with the following skills: - understand the mechanisms of use of proteins for energy purposes and of the synthesis of non-essential amino acids. - basic skills in the field of nucleic acid biochemistry and protein synthesis
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this course, knowledge of the subjects studied in the course of Chemistry and Biochemistry I is mandatory. In particular: structure of biomolecules, hemoglobin, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, molecular actions of coenzymes, general organization of metabolism, bioenergetics, terminal metabolism.
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures. - meetings in the classroom or online using the Teams platform, for clarifications and insights. During these meetings students will be required to solve multiple choice tests on the subjects already covered in the lectures. The tests will be discussed critically with the teacher.
Other information	See web site http://www.med.unipg.it/ccl/
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of a written test and an oral examination. The written, multiple choice test, comprises 30 questions covering all the topics of the teaching. The test lasts 60 minutes and is evaluated by assigning 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each question not answered, and applying a penalty of -0.25 points for every wrong answer. Students who achieve a score of at least 18/30 will be admitted to the oral exam. This test aims to assess the basic preparation to face the oral examination. The oral exam, lasting about 30 min, consists generally of three questions. The final evaluation takes into account mainly the oral exam, which 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	METABOLISM OF PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS. Protein turnover in humans. Digestion of dietary proteins and absorption of amino acids. Gastric, pancreatic, intestinal proteases. Nitrogen balance. Essential and non-essential amino acids. Nutritional value of proteins. Transamination. Oxidative and non-oxidative deamination. Urea cycle: reactions, regulation and energy balance. Systems for the transfer of ammonia to the liver. Fate of the carbonaceous skeleton: glucogenetic and ketogenetic amino acids. Metabolism of the following amino acids: glycine, serine, cysteine, methionine, aspartate, asparagine, glutamate, glutamine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, threonine, branched chain amino acids. Molecular basis of amino acid metabolism disorders. Derivatives of amino acid metabolism. Polyamines. METABOLISM OF NUCLEOTIDES. Review of the structures and properties of nucleotides. De novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides and its regulation. Notes on de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides. Transformation of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides. Thymidylate synthase. Recycling routes of purine nucleotides. Catabolism of purine nucleotides. Molecular basis of gout. METABOLISM OF NUCLEIC ACIDS. Review of the structures of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids. Mechanisms of action, properties and biotechnological use of enzymes involved in the mechanisms of replication, transcription and translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: DNA polymerase, DNA ligase, reverse transcriptase, RNA polymerase. Notes on DNA recombination and DNA editing. Eukaryotic mRNA maturation: cap insertion, polyadenylation, intron removal (splicing). RNA silencing and its therapeutic use. SYNTHESIS AND POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS OF PROTEINS. Properties of enzymes involved in protein synthesis (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and peptidyl transferase) and energy balance. Insertion of selenocysteine. Inhibitors of protein biosynthesis. Subcellular folding and targeting of proteins. Post-translational modifications of proteins. Biosynthesis of N-glycoproteins and notes on O-glycosylation.

BIOCHEMISTRY II - MOD. 3

Code	GP005829
CFU	3
Teacher	Barbara Cellini
Teachers	Barbara Cellini
Hours	37.5 ore - Barbara Cellini
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	Hormones. Organ and tissue metabolism
Reference texts	Biochimica Medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti - Piccin editore I principi di biochimica di Lehninger-Nelson, Cox – Zanichelli Editore Fondamenti di biochimica umana- Maccarrone- Zanichelli Editore
Educational objectives	Main knowledge acquired will be: -hormones and their mechanism of action; -biochemistry of tissues and metabolic interrelationships; The main competence will be: -understand the integrated metabolic pathways between tissues and hormonal regulation, as basis for future clinical studies.
Prerequisites	For an effective understanding of the topics of this course, knowledge of the subjects studied in the course of Chemistry and Biochemistry I is mandatory. In particular: structure of biomolecules, hemoglobin, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, molecular actions of coenzymes, general organization of metabolism, bioenergetics, terminal metabolism.
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all the subjects. Students are stimulated to interact with the teacher during the lectures. - meetings in the classroom or online using the Teams platform, for clarifications and insights. During these meetings students will be required to solve multiple choice tests on the subjects already covered in the lectures. The tests will be discussed critically with the teacher.
Other information	See web site http://www.med.unipg.it/ccl/
Learning verification modality	The exam consists of a written test and an oral examination. The written, multiple choice test, comprises 30 questions covering all the topics of the teaching. The test lasts 60 minutes and is evaluated by assigning 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each question not answered, and applying a penalty of -0.25 points for every wrong answer. Students who achieve a score of at least 18/30 will be admitted to the oral exam. This test aims to assess the basic preparation to face the oral examination. The oral exam, lasting about 30 min, consists generally of three questions. The final evaluation takes into account mainly the oral exam, which 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	HORMONES. General organization of the endocrine system. General information on the mechanism of action of hormones. Homeostasis of glucose. Insulin and glucagon: synthesis, mechanism of action, effects on glucose, lipid and protein metabolism. Molecular basis of diabetes. Hormones that regulate calcium metabolism. Biosynthesis of calcitriol. Hypothalamic and pituitary hormones. Thyroid hormones: biosynthesis and mechanism of action. Adrenal medulla hormones, biosynthesis and degradation. Biosynthesis of steroid hormones: corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, sex hormones. Notes on the synthesis of eicosanoids, role of cyclooxygenase. BIOCHEMISTRY OF ORGANS AND TISSUES. LIVER TISSUE. Function of hepatocytes in glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Liver detoxification reactions. Synthesis and use of glucuronic acid. Hepatic metabolism of ethanol. Catabolism of heme and conjugation of bilirubin. ADIPOSE TISSUE. Metabolism of triglycerides in white adipose tissue. Effects of insulin and glucagon. Notes on the secretory function of white adipose tissue. MUSCLE TISSUE. Review of the mechanism of muscle contraction. Types of muscle fibers. System of phosphages. Skeletal muscle tissue metabolism during anaerobic and aerobic exercise. Cardiac muscle tissue metabolism. NERVOUS TISSUE. Synapse biochemistry. Synthesis of the main neurotransmitters. Metabolic peculiarities of the nervous tissue. BLOOD. Composition of serum and plasma. Metabolic peculiarities of the erythrocyte. Intestinal absorption of iron and its use. Biosynthesis of the heme group. CANCER CELLS. Metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells: aerobic glycolysis and Warburg effect, Krebs cycle, glutamine metabolism.