BIOCHIMICA AMBIENTALE E DEGLI ALIMENTI

1) Knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to describe the metabolic fate of nutrients found in foods and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of cellular metabolism. They will also be able to describe the biochemical mechanisms involved in addressing environmental issues (pollution).

2) Applying knowledge and understanding: The course aims to explore in depth the biochemical processes involved in the metabolic fate of nutrients and in environmental management, enabling students to apply the knowledge acquired to formulate and support arguments regarding the nutritional value of foods and environmental management (remediation).

3) Making judgments: The course aims to equip students with the ability to gather and interpret data necessary for forming independent judgments.

4) Communication skills: Classroom lectures will also serve to stimulate student discussion, enabling them to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

5) Learning skills: The course aims to develop the learning skills students need to provide professional consultancy services.

The course includes 56 hours of frontal lessons delivered with the aid of PowerPoint presentations and online videos.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

GENERAL PART 

Composition of living matter. Molecular composition of cells: water, salts, amino acids, proteins, glycosides, lipids and nucleic acids

Amino acids and proteins:

peptide bond, structure and functions of proteins, allosteric proteins, myoglobin, hemoglobin and cytochromes.

Enzymes and enzymatic catalysis:

General properties and characteristics of enzymes; classification and nomenclature of enzymes, isozymes, multi-enzyme complexes. Enzyme kinetics, enzyme inhibition, regulation of enzymes, structure and function of coenzymes.

Glycides: Structure and functions.

Lipids: Structure and functions.

Nucleic acids: Structure of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides; Structure of DNA and RNA. DNA duplication and repair, RNA transcription and maturation; protein synthesis and regulation of gene expression

Introduction to metabolism: anabolic and catabolic pathways.

FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY

Foods and Nutrients.

The need for energy: energy function of foods; notes on bioenergetics.

Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.

Metabolic fate of carbohydrates: glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis, decarboxylation of pyruvate, Krebs cycle and its functions, pentose pathway, enzymatic and hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism, mechanism of action of insulin, glucagon and adrenaline

Metabolic fate of lipids: beta oxidation and synthesis of lipids, hormonal and enzymatic regulation, ketogenesis, synthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol.

Metabolic fate of proteins and amino acids: transamination and decarboxylation, role of pyridoxal phosphate, urea cycle and its regulation.

Eating-Fasting Cycle

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY

 Production of radical species and endogenous and exogenous defense mechanisms

Plants and interactions with the environment: biochemical adaptations of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses, salinity, xenobiotics, herbicides, climate and temperature variations (CAM and C4 plants), heavy metals, plant toxins and their effects on animals, hormonal interactions between plants and animals.

Enzymes and environment: microorganisms and enzymes as biosensors, enzymes and heavy metals, enzymes and microorganisms for the removal of oil slicks in sea and soil

Environmental pollution and bioindicators

Food spoilage and food contaminants

Application of enzymes in industry: green processes

The course contributes to the goals of Agenda 2030.

According to the Teaching Regulations (RDA), Art. 12 – University Educational Credits (CFU): the standard workload of 25 hours of total student effort, corresponding to one credit, may comprise:

a) 7 hours dedicated to lectures or equivalent teaching activities, with the remainder devoted to independent study;

b) between 12 and 15 hours dedicated to classroom exercises or equivalent supervised activities (laboratories), with the remainder devoted to study and personal review.

1.  D. VOET, J. VOET, C. W. PRATT- Principi di biochimica- Zanichelli

2.  -G. ARIENTI- Un compendio di biochimica- Ed. Piccin

3.  -P.C.CHAMPE, R.A. HARVEY, D.R. FERRIER- Le basi della Biochimica-Zanichelli

4.  -D.L.NELSON, M.M. COX- I principi di biochimica di Lehningher- Zanichelli

5.  U. Leuzzi, E. Bellocco, D. Barreca.Biochimica della nutrizione. Ed. ZANICHELLI

The grading follows this scheme:

Not suitable

Significant deficiencies in knowledge and understanding of the topics. Inability to analyze and synthesize. Obvious flaws.

18-20

Minimal knowledge and understanding of the topics. Frequent generalizations. Barely sufficient analytical and synthesis skills.

21-23

Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics. Fair analytical and synthesis skills. Ability to present arguments logically and coherently.

24-26

Good knowledge and understanding of the topics. Good analytical and synthesis skills. Ability to present arguments logically and coherently.

27-29

Very good knowledge and understanding of the topics. Notable analytical and synthesis skills. Topics explored in adequate depth.

30-30L

Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topics. Notable analytical and synthesis skills. Topics explored in significant depth.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti) and referring teacher (prof.ssa Santina Chiechio email: santina.chiechio@unict.it) within of department.

Exam dates are published on the degree programme's website: https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/l-

29_sfa/calendario-esami

1. Enzyme Kinetics of monomeric enzymes

 2. Glycolysis: reactions and regulation

3. Mycotoxins and metabolic alterations

 4. Structural and functional characteristics of allosteric proteins

 5. Transamination reactions

 6.Function of nutrients

7.Bioremedation and phytoremedation