Medicine and Surgery "G"

Activity type

B_02. Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico

SSD

BIOS-07/A

Year

1st year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

5

Hours distribution

62.5 classroom hours

Lecturers

CHIARA LANZILLOTTA
ALESSIA MARIANO

Activity type

B_02. Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico

SSD

BIOS-08/A

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

1

Hours distribution

12.5 classroom hours

Lecturers

Activity type

B_02. Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico

SSD

BIOS-07/A

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

37.5 classroom hours

Lecturers

Activity type

B_02. Struttura, funzione e metabolismo delle molecole d'interesse biologico

SSD

BIOS-08/A

Year

1st year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

1

Hours distribution

12.5 classroom hours

Lecturers

BRUNO ARCA'

The student must demonstrate that he has acquired a valid knowledge of the topics explained in class and included in the Biochemistry I program and must be able to illustrate them in a logical and coherent way.

Knowledge acquired by attending the CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMICAL PREPARATORY Course

Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOCHIMICA
Amino acids and peptides. Classification and structure of protein amino acids, acid-base properties, dissociation, isoelectric point, stereoisomerism – Non-protein amino acids - Amino acids as precursors of biological molecules - Peptide bond: structure and properties – Glutathione.

Proteins. Levels of structural organization of proteins - Protein folding - Chemical and physical denaturants - Proteins assisting folding - The hydrophobic effect - Molecular bases of degenerative diseases caused by misfolding - α and β keratins - Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin – the heme group - Saturation curves - Cooperative effect of oxygen binding on hemoglobin - Bohr effect - Influence of 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate - Carbon dioxide transport - Physiological and pathological haemoglobins - Structure, function, biosynthesis and degradation of collagen – Role of vitamin C - Collagen diseases - Electrophoretic analysis – Protein analysis techniques-Immunoglobulins.

Enzymes. Generality: active site and specificity - Enzyme kinetics: effect of pH temperature and substrate concentration on reaction rate - Michaelis-Menten equation – Linear transformations: Lineaweaver-Burk graph - Graphical determination of Km and Vmax - Irreversible inhibitors - Competitive and mixed inhibitors. Mechanisms of catalysis and regulation of enzymatic activity – Catalytic mechanism of serine proteases - Allosteric enzymes, positive and negative modulators - Covalent modifications: phosphorylation and dephosphorylation - Zymogens – Isoenzymes and organ damage.

Principles of biochemical methodology

Carbohydrates. Monosaccharides classification and stereoisomerism – Glycosidic bond – Disaccharides (lactose, saccharose, maltose and cellobiose) – Homopolysaccharides (glycogen, starch and cellulose) - Reserve glucides, structural carbohydrates – Glycosaminoglycans - Glycoproteins – Proteoglycans – AB0 blood groups.

Lipids. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids - Essential fatty acids - Triglycerides - Phosphoglycerolipids and sphingolipids - Glycolipids - Arachidonic acid and derivatives (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes) - Cholesterol and derivatives (bile acids, steroid hormones and cholecalciferol) - Biological membranes - Membrane proteins: integral and peripheral - Passive and active transport mechanisms - Transporters (glucose transporters, chlor-bicarbonate transporter) - Ion channels and pumps.



Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOCHIMICA
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS. Nitrogenous bases, nucleotides, DNA and RNA structure. DNA supercoiling and topoisomerases. DNA denaturation and melting temperature (Tm). Eukaryotic chromatin organization, nucleosomes, histones, and the histone code. RNA: versatility and functions. DNA REPLICATION. DNA replication in E. coli and eukaryotes: DNA polymerase and other factors involved.
TRANCRIPTION. RNA polymerase. Transcription in prokaryotes: promoters, sigma factors, transcriptional initiation and termination. Transcription in eukaryotes: RNA polymerase, RNApol II promoters, and general transcription factors. Initiation, elongation, and termination in eukaryotes. Transcriptional regulation in prokaryotes (lac and trp operons). Notes on transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes (transcription factors, enhancers, silencers, insulators).
EUKARYOTIC mRNA MATURATION. Capping, polyadenylation, splicing (spliceosome, snRNAs) and alternative splicing (splicing enhancers and silencers, SR proteins, hnRNPs). Splicing defects and human diseases: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
NON-CODING RNAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs): biogenesis, maturation and mechanism of action. Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and RNA interference (RNAi). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs).
ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES (ASOs), siRNAs, GENOME EDITING AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN BIOMEDICINE. Gene-specific inhibition by ASOs, siRNAs, and miRNAs: general aspects and issues (pharmacokinetics, off-target effects, innate immunity). Applications in biomedicine: (1) SMN2 and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Nusinersen); (2) TTR and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (patisiran); (3) Genome editing: zinc finger, ta-nuclease, and CRISPR-Cas9. Applications for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia.

Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOCHIMICA
Nelson, Cox I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHNINGER. Zanichelli ISBN 9788808261489
Donald Voet, Judith G Voet, Charlotte W Pratt. FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA. Zanichelli ISBN 9788808420961
Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. Grisham BIOCHIMICA. Piccin ISBN 9788829922338


Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOCHIMICA
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
Any university-level textbook of Molecular Biology covering the syllabus can be considered adequate, and students can choose the manual that seems to them clearer and more responsive to their needs. Said so, here below are some textbooks where the topics covered in class can be found:
- Alberts B. et al. L’essenziale di Biologia molecolare della cellula 5a Edizione Zanichelli 2020
- Amaldi A. et al. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE 3a Edizione Editrice Ambrosiana 2018
- Watson J.D. et al. BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE DEL GENE 7a Edizione Zanichelli 2015
- Teaching material made available by the teacher either on the e-learning or Classroom platforms.

Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOCHIMICA
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOCHIMICA
N/D
Module: BIOCHIMICA II - BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE
N/D

The lessons will be delivered with frontal teaching and in Italian language.

Attendance is mandatory.

To pass the exam the student must obtain a grade of no less than 18/30. The student must demonstrate that he has acquired sufficient knowledge of the topics explained in class and on the program.

To achieve a grade of 30/30 or 30/30 with honors, the student must demonstrate that he has acquired excellent knowledge of the topics explained in class and on the program.

The presentation of one or more topics explained in class and part of the exam program is required.

Module: BIOCHIMICA I - BIOCHIMICA

• Principles of Organic Chemistry applied to Biochemistry. 6h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Amino acids: structure and properties 4h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Amino acids and peptides -  peptide bond 4h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Proteins. Levels of structural organization of proteins. Protein folding. 8h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Post-translational modifications 3.5h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Fibrous proteins 3h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin. 6h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Immunoglobulins and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. 3h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Biochemical techniques and methodologies. 4h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Enzymes: General information. Active site and specificity - Enzyme kinetics 4h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Mechanisms of catalysis and regulation of enzymatic activity. Inhibitors. 4h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Muscolar proteins 3h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Carbohydrates. Chemical characteristics and properties 6h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Lipids. Chemical characteristics and properties 6h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section


• Fat-soluble vitamins 3h
  • Books: Teaching material provided by the teacher in class and recommended texts, indicated in the TEXTS section

• COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS. DNA REPLICATION. [2.5 hours]


• TRANSCRIPTION IN PROKARYOTES AND EUKARYOTES. THE OPERANS (LAC AND TRP) AND NOTES ON TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION IN EUKARYOTES. [3.5 HOURS]


• EUKARYOTIC mRNA MATURATION. [1.5 hours]


• NON-CODING RNAs. [2.5 hours]


• ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES (ASOs), siRNAs, GENOME EDITING AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN BIOMEDICINE. [2.5 hours]