Unit FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY

Course
Food science and technology
Study-unit Code
80053506
Curriculum
Tecnologie agro-alimentari
Teacher
Daniele Del Buono
Teachers
  • Daniele Del Buono
  • Daniela Pezzolla (Codocenza)
  • Giovanni Gigliotti (Codocenza)
Hours
  • 45 ore - Daniele Del Buono
  • 9 ore (Codocenza) - Daniela Pezzolla
  • 27 ore (Codocenza) - Giovanni Gigliotti
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2023
Offered
2024/25
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline della tecnologia alimentare
Sector
AGR/13
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian
Contents
Course topics will cover living matter, from cell chemical events to the latest technology. The course will address the role of the main classes of molecules in metabolism and the kinetic aspects of enzymology, thermodynamics and bioenergetics. In addition, the main metabolic processes, photosynthesis, carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism, protein metabolism and genetic information will be addressed.
Reference texts
R. PINTON et al. (Coordinatori). Fondamenti di biochimica agraria. Patron Editore Bologna, 2016.

LEHNINGER (by Nelson and Cox). Principles of Biochemistry. Freeman and company, New York.

M. BUSINELLI. Chimica del Suolo. Morlacchi editore, Perugia, 2009.

P. SEQUI, C. CIAVATTA, T. MIANO. Fondamenti di Chimica del Suolo. Patron Editore, 2017.

K. TAN Principles of soil chemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York, 2010.

SLIDES in UNISTUDIUM "Chimica Agraria" SAA
Educational objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge of Agricultural Chemistry, a discipline that covers both the soil and the plant as considered part of a unitary system, and which aims to optimize the characteristics of the one in function of the needs of the other.

The main acquisitions will cover:

1. the biological and biochemical context in which each molecule, reaction or metabolic pathway is located.
2. the role of enzymes as catalysts of reactions in living organisms.
3. the chemical aspects of photosynthesis in different plant species.
4. the chemical aspects of the main anabolic and catabolic processes of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
5. the role of ATP as a source of energy for metabolic processes
6. the importance of coupled reactions for carrying out endoergonic processes in living organisms.
7. the chemical assimilation mechanisms of elements necessary for plant development and metabolism.
8. the soil as a substrate for plant growth.
9. the role of soil colloids as fertility factors.
10. the soil retention power for nutrients.
11. the soil ability to retain pollutants by avoiding groundwater contamination.
12. the soil resource control in agronomic and environmental field.
13. the relationships between soil and plant.
14. the pH role in conditioning soil nutritional characteristics.
15. the soil buffering ability.

The main skills (i.e. the ability to apply acquired knowledge) will be:

- to be able to use a scientific method of investigation, also in relation to application problems.
- to be capable and convincing in exposing their own professional assessments.
- to be able to carry out professional advice concerning fertility and the vulnerability of the soil pollutants.
Prerequisites
In order to understand, interpret and know how to apply theoretical principles and analytical techniques, subject of this course, it is necessary to have successfully passed the “Chemistry” examination (I year). Knowledge of the basic principles of general and organic chemistry is an indispensable prerequisite for the student who wants to attend this course; such preliminary knowledge is also required for non-attending students to be able to successfully undertake the study of the course, using the teaching material (UNISTUDIUM UNIPG Chimica Agraria).
Teaching methods
The course will be carried out as follows:
- Lectures on all subjects of the course.
- Laboratory exercises at the Agricultural Chemistry Lab on: physico-chemical bases of spectrophotometric analyses, enzymatic activity analyses and spectrophotometric determinations of protein content, chlorophylls and carotenes in plant materials. Use of molecular models of silicates. Calcimeters. Soil organic matter and CEC titrimetric determinations. Soil pH determination by potentiometric method. Critical evaluation of soil analysis certificates.
Students (a single group) will follow some guided exercises of 2 hours each, preceded by an introduction lecture. At the end of each practical exercise, each student will have to fill out a form reporting his name, data, calculations and results obtained: this form, given to the lecturer at the end of the exercise, will allow verifying the student’s participation.
Other information
Prof. Daniela Businelli Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, DSA3. Agricultural Chemistry Research Unit. Location: New building, ground floor, to the right of the front door.
Tel. 075/5856228
E-mail daniela.businelli@unipg.it
Receipt by appointment, the request should be sent via e-mail. It is also possible to send questions and receive answers by e-mail.

Schedule and lesson time: link to the DSA3 website http://dsa3.unipg.it/didattica/informazioni-per-studenti/

Clipboard, lesson slides and course information are available on the UNISTUDIUM.
https: //www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/

Attendance: Optional, but strongly recommended.
Learning verification modality
The examination will consist of a final test (about 40 minutes) to verify the students' level of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological contents of the program. The discussion will cover some course topics, including bioenergetics, protein structure and catalysis, photosynthesis, primary metabolism, plant nitrogen cycle, DNA and RNA, and protein biosynthesis.
Student evaluation
18-21: sufficient knowledge of the basic topics of the course; sufficient understanding of the concepts.
22-24: good knowledge of the course topics;
good understanding of the concepts.
25-27: very good knowledge of the course topics;
very good understanding of the concepts.
28-30: excellent knowledge of the course topics;
excellent understanding of the concepts.
The examination will also test the student's ability to communicate and explain the topics covered by the course. Lastly, it will assess the student's ability to apply the knowledge acquired to solve practical cases, working out solutions independently.
For information on support services for students with disabilities, visit http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa
Extended program
Agricultural chemistry-
Plant:
Entalpy and entropy. Free energy. Redox potentials. Activation energy. Coupled reactions. Absorption energy and molecular excitation. Enzimology. Photosynthesis. Carbohydrate biosynthesis. Fermentation and respiration processes. Lipid metabolism. Nitrogen cycle. Biochemical bases of plant nutrition.

Agricultural chemistry- Soil:

Soil genesis. The role of hydrosphere, atmosphere and litosphere. Soil carbonates. Soil silicates: structural classification. Weathering and soil development. Genesis of organic fraction. Soil redox potential. Soil colloids. Clays: structural characteristics, properties and development of charge. Soil humus: extraction, fractionation and chemical composition. Oxides and hydroxydes. Soil retention capacity. Reactions of phosphates in soil. Soil pH and buffering capacity. Principles of plant nutrition.

Laboratory practical classes.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
Obiettivi: 2 (Fame zero), 3 (Salute e benessere), 15 (la vita sulla terra)