Unit BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- Course
- School of dental medicine
- Study-unit Code
- 50999108
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Lara Macchioni
- CFU
- 8
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2023
- Offered
- 2023/24
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa integrata
BIOCHEMISTRY
Code | GP003685 |
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CFU | 5 |
Teacher | Lara Macchioni |
Teachers |
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Hours |
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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 | Le basi della biochimica - Emine Ercikan Abali, Susan D. Cline, David S. Franklin, Susan M. Viselli - Zanichelli editore Terza edizione italiana |
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. |
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile | Health and wellness |
Clinical biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology
Code | 50585801 |
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CFU | 1 |
Teacher | Mirco Dindo |
Teachers |
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Hours |
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Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
Area | Diagnostica di laboratorio |
Academic discipline | BIO/12 |
Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Code | 50595802 |
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CFU | 2 |
Teacher | Mariangela Morlando |
Teachers |
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Hours |
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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 | Structure and metabolism of nucleic acids. Protein synthesis. Regulation of gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Hints of genetic engineering. |
Reference texts | Fondamenti di Biologia Molecolare. Lisabeth A. Allison. Zanichelli Seconda edizione italiana 2023 Teaching material provided by the Professor through the Unistudium IT platform |
Educational objectives | The main goal of this course is to provide to students knowledge on the structure and fundamental properties of nucleic acids with particular attention to the gene expression regulation. |
Prerequisites | Good knowledge of the topics discussed during the Chemist and Biochemistry I course. |
Teaching methods | Lectures will be made by using slides and movies. |
Other information | It is possible to arrange an appointment with the Professor via email. |
Learning verification modality | It consists of a 30 minutes oral exam aimed to assess the knowledge acquired and the ability to understand the topics of the course; also the communication skills and the use of proper scientific language will be assessed. To have information on support services for students with disabilities and / or SLD, visit the page http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa |
Extended program | METABOLISM OF NUCLEIC ACIDS. the structure of ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acids. Enzymes involved in DNA replication in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Replication mechanism in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Genetic variability (polymorphisms). Mechanisms of spontaneous or mutagenic-induced mutation. Mechanisms of DNA repair (correction of mismatching, removal of a deaminated base, removal of thymine dimers). Structure of genes and RNA biosynthesis (transcription). Promoter sequences. Initiation, elongation, termination of transcription. The transcription enzymes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Eukaryotic mRNA maturation: cap insertion, polyadenylation, intron removal (splicing). Protein synthesis. Regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. PCR, reverse transcriptase and its biotechnological use. Genetic engineering and Recombinant DNA. |