BIOCHIMICA SISTEMATICA UMANA

To provide students with an adequate understanding of metabolic processes and the mechanisms regulating metabolism, thereby preparing them for subsequent studies on the effects of drugs, their mechanisms of action, and drug design.

Furthermore, with reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to the acquisition of the following transferable skills:

1) Knowledge and understanding: ability to express, using appropriate biochemical terminology, the molecular bases of biological systems and processes, the main metabolic pathways, and their integration.

2) Applying knowledge and understanding: Individual and group exercises aimed at assessing students’ understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

3) Learning skills: Students will be able to update and expand their knowledge independently by consulting textbooks, scientific articles, and online platforms.

4) Making judgements: Administration of formative assessments during the course aimed at enabling students to self-assess their understanding and learning of completed teaching units; conscious evaluation of the teaching and learning process.

5) Communication skills: During classroom group activities, students will be expected to provide accurate definitions regarding the organizational levels of enzyme proteins according to their different degrees of structural complexity. They will also be able to express, using appropriate biochemical terminology, the specific metabolic events occurring in different organs and tissues, as well as their interrelationships and regulation.

• Introduction to metabolism

• Carbohydrate metabolism and its regulation: digestion and absorption of carbohydrates; glycogen synthesis; glycogenolysis; glycolysis; Krebs cycle; pentose phosphate pathway; gluconeogenesis; hormonal regulation of carbohydrate metabolism.

• Mitochondrial respiratory chain and its regulation

• Lipid metabolism and its regulation: transport of lipids in the blood (plasma lipoproteins); fatty acid oxidation; ketogenesis and utilization of ketone bodies; lipogenesis; cholesterol biosynthesis and its regulation; diseases associated with impaired lipid metabolism (dyslipidemias and atherosclerosis).

• Protein metabolism and its regulation: deamination; transamination; metabolic fate of ammonia; urea cycle; metabolism of the major amino acids.

• Metabolic integration and the fed–fasting cycle

• Nucleotide metabolism and its regulation

• Free radicals and defense mechanisms: definition and physicochemical characteristics of free radicals; endogenous production; toxicity; enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense mechanisms.

• Heme metabolism: biosynthesis; degradation; jaundice; porphyrias.

Principi di biochimica di Lenhinger (nelson, cox; zanichelli)

Biochimica medica  (n. siliprandi, e g. tettamanti) - ed. piccin

Fondamenti di biochimica (d. voet, j.g. voet e c.w. pratt – ed. zanichelli)

The examination will be a written test consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions and 2 open-ended questions.

The final grade will be awarded according to the following criteria:

• Fail:
  The student does not demonstrate the minimum knowledge required of the fundamental contents of the course and does not show sufficient ability to understand, integrate, and apply the main biochemical concepts. The answers to the multiple-choice questions are predominantly incorrect, and the answers to the open-ended questions reveal insufficient or fragmented knowledge, or significant conceptual gaps.

• Grade 18–21:
  The student demonstrates a minimum knowledge of the main contents of the course. They are able to recognize and correctly identify the main concepts in the multiple-choice questions and provide sufficiently relevant answers to the open-ended questions, although with limited ability to connect and apply the knowledge acquired.

• Grade 22–25:
  The student demonstrates a fair knowledge of the main contents of the course. They correctly answer most of the multiple-choice questions and provide relevant and sufficiently well-developed answers to the open-ended questions. They demonstrate a fair ability to integrate the knowledge acquired and apply it to simple biochemical situations and problems.

• Grade 26–28:
  The student demonstrates good knowledge of the course contents and an adequate ability to understand the underlying principles and relationships. They correctly answer the multiple-choice questions and address the open-ended questions in a relevant, clear, and sufficiently structured manner. They demonstrate good ability to integrate and apply the knowledge acquired, including to more complex situations and problems.

• Grade 29–30 and distinction (cum laude):
  The student demonstrates thorough, comprehensive, and well-organized knowledge of the course contents. They answer the multiple-choice questions with a high degree of accuracy and address the open-ended questions in a complete, relevant, and rigorous manner, demonstrating full command of biochemical terminology. They are able to integrate, critically analyze, and independently apply the knowledge acquired, including to complex situations and problems. Distinction (cum laude) is awarded in cases of outstanding, comprehensive, and particularly solid preparation, characterized by highly accurate answers and full mastery of the course contents and their application.

The assessment of learning outcomes may also be conducted remotely, should circumstances require it. The examination will cover exclusively the topics addressed during lectures. The types of exercises included in the examination will be presented and discussed during the course.

Examination dates are published on the website of the Department of Drug and Health Sciences.

Information for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students concerned may request a personal meeting in order to arrange any appropriate compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, in accordance with the learning objectives and their specific needs.

Students may also contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration – Disability and/or Specific Learning Disorders Services) faculty representative of the Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio.

EXAM DATES: Exam dates are published on the website of the Department of Drug and Health Sciences: https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/calendario-esami

TEACHING WORKLOAD – ECTS CREDITS: According to the provisions of the Academic Regulations (RDA), Art. 12 – University Educational Credits (CFU), within the standard workload of 25 hours of overall student commitment corresponding to one credit, the following may be included:

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

b) a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 hours devoted to classroom exercises or equivalent supervised activities (laboratory work), with the remaining hours dedicated to study and individual review.

1. Describe the Krebs cycle.

2. Describe ketogenesis.

Which amino acid is predominantly used by the liver for gluconeogenesis?

a) Histidine
b) Alanine
c) Phenylalanine
d) Arginine

Glucokinase:

a) Has a lower Km for glucose than the other hexokinases
b) Is found in muscle and is important for directing glucose between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis
c) Is more active when blood glucose concentrations are high
d) Is inhibited by glucose-6-phosphate