INGLESE

English

By the end of the course, students should have learned the structure and function of the most important biomolecules, particularly proteins (e.g., enzymes, collagen, hemoglobin), carbohydrates (e.g., glucose, glycogen), and lipids (membrane and storage). They should also understand the main metabolic pathways and their regulation.

Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (International Edition) - Nelson, Cox

The Biochemistry course aims to provide TLB students with the biochemical foundations necessary to understand the relationship between the structure and function of the main classes of biomolecules. The main objectives of the course are to understand and integrate the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. To understand the mechanisms of action of hormones and how some of them regulate the main metabolic pathways.

Have basic knowledge of general and inorganic chemistry.

Lectures.
During the lecture, discussion will be encouraged both to provide additional information and to explore the topic in greater depth.

The oral exam, approximately of 30 minutes, is intended to assess the student's knowledge of the structure of the most important molecules in biochemistry, such as carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins, both in terms of their structural and metabolic roles. Students must demonstrate adequate knowledge of biochemical pathways and the ability to connect cellular metabolism with hormonal regulation by following the fasting/healthy eating dynamic.

The teaching materials presented during the lessons are shared with the students at the end of each lesson and/or topic covered.

The chemical constituents of living matter, carbon chemistry, biomolecules. Amino acids. Classification, structure, and chemical-physical properties, stereoisomerism. Proteins. General information and functions. The peptide bond and primary sequence, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Myoglobin, hemoglobin. Notes on collagen.

Enzymes. Role and mechanism of action of enzymes. Enzymes as biocatalysts, similarities and differences with inorganic catalysts. Formation of the enzyme-substrate complex; definition of the active site; cofactors; enzyme nomenclature. Isoenzymes. Enzyme kinetics: definition of rate and initial rate (vo), rate as a function of enzyme and substrate concentration. Definition of Km and Vmax. Enzyme regulation. Covalent regulation and allosteric regulation. Vitamins. Classification, structure, and functions, water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin D and calcium metabolism.
Metabolism: General concepts. Catabolic and anabolic pathways. Principles of bioenergetics. ATP: structure and biological role.
Structure and metabolism of carbohydrates. Monosaccharides, disaccharides. Storage polysaccharides. Digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates. Glycolysis: stages and regulation. Krebs cycle: general concepts, regulation. Oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport chain, overview. Energy balance of carbohydrate catabolism. Notes on the pentose cycle and gluconeogenesis. Glycogen metabolism.
Amino acid metabolism. Catabolism of dietary proteins and digestive enzymes. Essential and nonessential amino acids. Amino acids as precursors of nitrogenous compounds. Amino acid catabolism: transamination and deamination; fate of the carbon skeleton. Urea biosynthesis. Lipid structure and metabolism. Classification of lipids (cellular lipids and storage lipids; simple and complex lipids). Fatty acids: general structure and major fatty acids. Structure and function of triglycerides and phospholipids. Cholesterol. Digestion and absorption of lipids; plasma lipoproteins: structure and function. Lipolysis and degradation of fatty acids, biosynthesis of fatty acids. Essential fatty acids.
Hormones. General definition, mechanism of action. Adrenaline, insulin, and glucagon.