BIOCHIMICA AMBIENTALE E DEGLI ALIMENTI

The course includes 56 hours of frontal lessons.

 "Information for students with disabilities and/or DSAA guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) professor of our Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio."

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

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

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