BIOCHEMISTRY

Composition and organization of living matter. Chemical composition of the cell: water, minerals, amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids.

Amino Acids and Proteins: Peptide bond, structures and functions of proteins, allosteric proteins, haemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes.

ENZYMES: Mechanisms of Enzyme Action , Properties of Enzymes, Inhibition of Enzymes, Regulation of Enzyme Activity, Allosteric Control of Enzyme Activity, Coenzymes: Structure and Function.

INTRODUCTION TO METABOLISM

Carbohydrate Metabolism:

The Glycolytic Pathway, Enzymatic and hormonal Regulation of the Glycolytic Pathway, Gluconeogenesis, Glycogenolysis and Glycogenesis, Oxidative Pyruvate decarboxylation , The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, Pentose Phosphate Pathway.

Bioenergetics and Oxidative Metabolism:

Structure and Compartimentation of the Mitochondrial Membranes, Electron Transfer, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Mitochondrial ATP Synthesis, Photosynthesis, Oxygen free radicals production and defence mechanisms.

Lipid Metabolism:

Synthesis and Degradation of Lipids, Enzymatic and hormonal Regulation of the Lipidic Pathway, Ketogenesis, Synthesis of Cholesterol.

Amino Acid Metabolism:

Transamination and decarboxylation of amminocids, role of PLP, Urea Cycle and its regulation.

Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleotide Metabolism:

Metabolism of Purine Nucleotides, Metabolism of Pyrimidine Nucleotides

Nucleic Acids:

DNA : Structure and Conformation; Synthesis, Repair, and Recombination;

RNA: Structure, Transcription, and Processing; Protein Synthesis: Translation and Posttranslational Modifications; Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology.

Plants and the environment:

Plant adaptations to biotic or abiotic stresses, soil pollutants and the effects of plant toxins on herbivores, interactions between animals, plants and the environment.

Enzymes and the environment:

Enzymes as biosensors, enzymes and heavy metals

Environmental Pollution

Food contaminants

Main Biochemistry Methodologies

1. D. VOET, J. VOET, C. W. PRATT- Fondamenti di biochimica- Zanichelli
2. J. B. HARBORNE- Introduction to ecological biochemistry- Academic press
3. -G. ARIENTI- Un compendio di biochimica- Ed. Piccin
4. -P.C.CHAMPE, R.A. HARVEY, D.R. FERRIER- Le basi della Biochimica-Zanichelli
5. -D.L.NELSON, M.M. COX- Introduzione alla biochimica di Lehningher- Zanichelli
6. -PATTI,CONTESTABILE, DI SALVO- Metodologie Biochimiche- Casa Editrice Ambrosiana