GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY

To give notions necessary for understanding physical, chemical and biological context in which biochemical transformations and molecular interactions occur during differentiation, reproduction and life of living organisms. The acquired knowledge will allow the molecular understanding of the complex processes underlying the metabolism of living organisms.

Frontal teaching with power point and/or short film projection. Teaching is also developed in order to stimulate the student's ability to orient himself independently in the selection and consultation of scientific texts and journals.

If the teaching is carried out in mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes may be introduced in order to respect the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD:

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensative measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP referent teacher (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or DSA) of our Department, Prof. Teresa Musumeci.

• - Amino acids: structures, functions, physical and chemical characteristics and their classification.
• - Peptides: Features of the peptide bond, examples of peptides of considerable biological interest.
• - Levels of structural and supramolecular organization of proteins.
• - Carbohydrates: Structure, nomenclature and functions of the main carbohydrates of biological interest.
• - Lipids: Structure, nomenclature, functions and classification of the major lipids of biological interest.
• - Chromoproteins transporters of oxygen: myoglobin and hemoglobin; structural and functional differences, factors that influence the binding of hemoglobin to oxygen; allosteric behavior of hemoglobin; hemoglobin role in the transport of carbon dioxide; buffering action of hemoglobin; physiological and pathological variants of hemoglobin.
• - General properties and characteristics of enzymes: classification and nomenclature of enzymes, isoenzymes, multi-enzyme complexes, enzyme kinetics, affinity and activity: the Michaelis-Menten constant, Maximum Speed and their implications; graphic of the double reciprocal for the calculation of KM; enzyme inhibitors (irreversible and reversible, competitive, non-competitive and incompetive; methods to recognize the type of inhibition). Regulation of enzyme activity, allosteric enzymes.
• - Levels of structural and supramolecular organization of nucleic acids.
• - Genetic code and its features.
• - DNA replication in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
• - Examples of damage to DNA and DNA repair mechanisms.
• - From genes to proteins: transcription, RNA maturation and translation.
• - Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes: induction, repression and gene activation; operons and their regulation mechanism.
• - Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes.
• - Molecules involved in cell recognition: the role of membrane carbohydrates .
• - Mechanisms of intercellular communication: nervous and hormonal pathways;
• - Structural and functional characteristics of the different types of receptors for hormones and growth factors  (7-transmembrane helices, with tyrosine kinase activity, receptors for steroid hormones, receptors for thyroid hormones); transduction pathways of signals (proteins Gs, Gi and Gq, protein Ras cascade of MAP kinase, intracellular second messengers (cAMP, cGMP, IP3, DAG, Ca + +) and their mode of synthesis, action and degradation. Intracellular mechanisms and molecules involved in the transmission of some sensory signals (rhodopsin, transducin and light signals, protein Golf and olfactory signals, gustducin and perception of flavors).
• - Molecules involved in cell cycle control and cell proliferation (cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases).
• - Mechanisms of cell death: necrosis and apoptosis; morphological differences, and molecular mechanisms. Molecules involved in the execution of the apoptotic program.

• D. Nelson, M.C. Cox:"I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LENHINGER -VIII edition" ed. Zanichelli
• D. Voet, J.G. Voet e C.W. Pratt: "FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA" Ed. Zanichelli
• T.M. Devlin: "BIOCHIMICA con aspetti clinici-farmaceutici" EdiSES
• D. Voet e J.G. Voet: "BIOCHIMICA" Ed. Zanichelli
• J.L. Tymoczko, J.M. Berg, L. Stryer "PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA" - Ed. Zanichelli
• C.K. Mathews, K.E. van Holde, K.G. Ahern "BIOCHIMICA" Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
• Ritter "BIOCHIMICA" - Ed. Zanichelli
• Devlin T.M. "Biochimica con aspetti clinici" - Edises
• P. Champe, R. Harvey, D. R. Ferrier "LE BASI DELLA BIOCHIMICA"- Ed. Zanichelli
• Garret & Grisham: "PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA" Ed. Piccin
• N. Siliprandi e G. Tettamanti "BIOCHIMICA MEDICA" Ed. Piccin
• B. Lewin, J.E. Krebs, E.S. Goldstein, S.T. Kilpatrick "Il Gene- II ediz. compatta"- Ed. Zanichelli.

Oral or written exam (with open-ended questions). In both cases, the student will be asked at least 3 questions aimed at verifying and evaluating: knowledge of the topics listed in the program; the degree of communication skills (use of a correct scientific language - conciseness, clarity and effectiveness in the response and/or in the argument); the ability to use the biochemical knowledge acquired to solve specific questions, demonstrating the ability to reason and make connections between the various topics. The vote comes from the competence demonstrated by the student in the presentation of the answers given to the questions asked. The final mark will be the knowledge of the topics covered by the questions asked to the student, the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to specific biochemical issues that will be placed in the attention of the student, the overall expressive capacity of the student.