The course aims at providing students with knowledge about the structure and function of biological molecules as well as on the main principles of biochemistry fundamental to the understanding of the metabolic processes, with particular reference to the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleotides. This course will also provide the necessary tools for further investigations in the field of biochemistry of foods and food science.

1.Introduction to the course
2.Amino acids and proteins
2.1 Structural features of amino acids and their classification
2.2 Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins
2.3 Oxygen-binding proteins
3. Enzymes
3.1 Classification
3.2 Mechanism of action
3.3 Michaelis-Menten equation
3.4 Regulatory enzymes
4. Carbohydrates
4.1 Monosaccharides and disaccharides
4.2 Polysaccharides: starch, glycogen, cellulose
5. Nucleotides and nucleic acids: an outline
6. Lipids
6.1 Structural features and nomenclature of fatty acids
6.2 Structure of triacylglycerols and main features
6.3 Structural lipids in membranes: an outline
7. Bioenergetics and biochemical reaction types
7.1 Bioenergetics and thermodynamics
7.2 Common biochemical reactions
7.3 Phosphoryl group transfers and ATP
7.4 Biological oxidation-reduction reactions
8 Carbohydrate metabolism
8.1 Glycolysis
8.2 Gluconeogenesis
8.3 Penthose phosphate pathway
8.4 Glycogen metabolism
8.5 Principles of metabolic regulation
9 The citric acid cycle
9.1 Production of Acetil-CoA
9.2 Reactions of the citric acid cycle
9.3 The glyoxylate cycle
10 Fatty acid catabolism
11 Amino acid oxidation and the production of urea
12 Oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis
13 Photophosphorylation and carbohydrate biosynthesis in plants: an outline
14 Lipid biosynthesis
14.1 Biosynthesis of fatty acids
14.2 Biosynthesis of triacylglycerols
14.3 Biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids: an outline
14.4 Biosynthesis of cholesterol
15 Biosynthesis of amino acids
16 Biosynthesis and degradation of nucleotides
17. Tissue-specific metabolism: an overview

Bridging courses are not required. 

After completing the course, student will need to show:

•  to have acquired adequate knowledge of the structure, functions and metabolism of the most important biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleotides);
• to have understood the structure-function relationships of bio-molecules with particular reference to the importance of food metabolism as the main source of energy;
•  to know how to apply the acquired knowledge to solve problems of enzyme kinetics and to make connections between different metabolisms (glucose, lipid and protein metabolisms) demonstrating to have understood the rationale behind the discipline;
• to be able to independently deepen what learned to use critically and with proper independent judgment the acquired biochemical knowledge;
• to possess the specific biochemical terminology and to be able to properly communicate the knowledge and the acquired concepts also to a non-expert public;
• to be able to link and integrate the knowledge learned in the field of biochemistry with that provided in the other courses and to have developed biochemical skills needed to undertake next studies with a high degree of autonomy

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

No supporting activities are expected.

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

Attendance is strongly recommended.

It is required a basic knowledge of organic chemistry and biology.

Course books

Nelson DL, Cox MM: I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, 2018, Zanichelli.
Nelson DL, Cox MM: Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehninger, 2015, Zanichelli.
Tymoczko JL, Berg JN, Berg JM, Stryer L: Principi di biochimica, 2010, Zanichelli.
Supplementary books:
Voet D, Voet JG, Pratt CW: Fondamenti di biochimica, 2013, Zanichelli.
Garrett RH, Grisham CM: Biochimica, 2014, Piccin.

The material used during the lessons  will be visible online and thus available to all students.

Assessment

Written test.

Multiple choice test. The test consists of 80 questions to which students will have to answer by highlighting the only correct answer on the 4 proposals. Within the 80 questions, open questions and exercises are also foreseen. Specifically, the following will be ascertained:

- Knowledge and understanding through multiple choice test (structured test)

- The knowledge and comprehension skills applied through the resolution of exercises, drawings of structural formulas and compilation of schemes (semi-structured test).

The level of in-depth knowledge will be tested with open questions. Wrong answers will be scored zero, while 1.0 points will be awarded for each correct answer. The teacher will be able to attribute a higher score (2 points) to open questions / exercises and compilation of schemes. The final score is calculated by a suitable proportion to go back to the evaluation in 30ths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Lectures

Attendance

Attendance is strongly recommended.

It is required a basic knowledge of organic chemistry and biology.

Course books

Nelson DL, Cox MM: I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, 2018, Zanichelli.
Nelson DL, Cox MM: Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehninger, 2015, Zanichelli.
Tymoczko JL, Berg JN, Berg JM, Stryer L: Principi di biochimica, 2010, Zanichelli.
Supplementary books:
Voet D, Voet JG, Pratt CW: Fondamenti di biochimica, 2013, Zanichelli.
Garrett RH, Grisham CM: Biochimica, 2014, Piccin.

The material used during the lessons  will be visible online and thus available to all students.

Assessment

Written test.

Multiple choice test. The test consists of 80 questions to which students will have to answer by highlighting the only correct answer on the 4 proposals. Within the 80 questions, open questions and exercises are also foreseen. Specifically, the following will be ascertained:

- Knowledge and understanding through multiple choice test (structured test)

- The knowledge and comprehension skills applied through the resolution of exercises, drawings of structural formulas and compilation of schemes (semi-structured test).

The level of in-depth knowledge will be tested with open questions. Wrong answers will be scored zero, while 1.0 points will be awarded for each correct answer. The teacher will be able to attribute a higher score (2 points) to open questions / exercises and compilation of schemes. The final score is calculated by a suitable proportion to go back to the evaluation in 30ths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography.