The course aims to provide knowledge for understanding the molecular mechanisms of the main cellular metabolic activities. In particular, will be analyzed chemical reactions that allow living organisms to gain energy by oxidizing organic molecules taken with the diet and to transform these molecules into their constituents. In addition, the mechanisms of regulation of such metabolic pathways will be discussed in different physiopathological conditions.

Introduction to Biochemistry.

Composition, structure and functions of proteins.

Enzymes:

Classification.

Structure.

Mechanisms of action

kinetic and regulation

Catalytic mechanisms and inhibition

Hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Chemistry of carbohydrates

Chemistry of lipids

Signal transduction

cAMP and calcium as second messengers.

Digestive processes: conversion of a meal in molecules used by the cell.

Basic notions on the metabolism.

Carbohydrate metabolism:

Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Hexose monophosphate shunt.

Other sugars of metabolic interest.

Glycogen metabolism.

Lipid metabolism:

Beta oxidation.

Fatty acids synthesis.

Cholesterol metabolism.

Synthesis of triacylglycerol and phospholipids.

Metabolism of cholesterol.

Nitrogen metabolism:

Amino acids metabolism.

Urea cycle.

Amino acids biosynthesis.

Krebs cycle:

Functions, energy balance and regulation.

Oxidative phosphorylation:

The electron transport chain.

The proton motive force.

Regulation of metabolism.

Knowledge and ability of comprehension: The student must have acquired all the relevant knowledge about the structure and function of biological macromolecules and the basic principles that allow a full understanding of metabolism. The student must also have acquired basic knowledge about the metabolic regulation strategies, the specific biochemical processes of various tissues and organs, including their integration and hormonal regulation.

Ability to apply knowledge and comprehension: The student must demonstrate to be able to establish correlation between biological structure and function and to link the different studied topics. 

Autonomy of judgement: The student must demonstrate to be able to critically evaluate the information received.

Communication skills: The student must demonstrate to be able to communicate the acquired skills by adequate scientific language.

Learning skill: The student must demonstrate to have developed good learning skills, enabling them to deepen the knowledge gained during the course by addressing subsequent study paths.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it