Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

The course aims at teaching the physical-chemical properties of colloidal systems and polymeric solutions and the spectroscopic and structural techniques that allow their characterisation. The student should acquire a basic background on physical-chemical properties of colloidal and polymeric solutions and common experimental methodologies used for their investigation.

Structural Chemistry by X-ray diffraction allows to determine with great precision the atomic positions, and then the bond lengths and bond angles of molecules in a single crystal. It is a technique in which the image produced by X-ray diffraction of a set of molecules, atoms or ions in the crystal is recorded and analyzed to reconstruct the electron density of the crystal lattice. The results obtained are very accurate, giving bond lengths with an accuracy of 0.001 Angstroms.
The modern structural chemistry has produced a huge impact to a deeper understanding of the properties of matter and function of materials and molecular entities of all sizes.
Students after attending the course will be able:
1) to identify the crystal symmetries
2) to acquire sufficient knowledge of the theory and practice of X-ray diffraction
3) to understand the principles of structural determination.

In-depth information about spectroscopic interpretation of NMR spectra, with particular emphasis on the relationship between molecular strcture and spectral features. Updates on the modern NMR hardware, and on the updated sequences suitable to molecular structure identification.

The course aims at teaching the physical-chemical properties of colloidal systems and polymeric solutions and the spectroscopic and structural techniques that allow their characterisation. The student should acquire a basic background on physical-chemical properties of colloidal and polymeric solutions and common experimental methodologies used for their investigation.

Structural Chemistry by X-ray diffraction allows to determine with great precision the atomic positions, and then the bond lengths and bond angles of molecules in a single crystal. It is a technique in which the image produced by X-ray diffraction of a set of molecules, atoms or ions in the crystal is recorded and analyzed to reconstruct the electron density of the crystal lattice. The results obtained are very accurate, giving bond lengths with an accuracy of 0.001 Angstroms.
The modern structural chemistry has produced a huge impact to a deeper understanding of the properties of matter and function of materials and molecular entities of all sizes.
Students after attending the course will be able:
1) to identify the crystal symmetries
2) to acquire sufficient knowledge of the theory and practice of X-ray diffraction
3) to understand the principles of structural determination.

Planning organic synthesis

Comprehension of the role of the metal center as part of a biological molecule or of a synthetic model, looking at its nature, oxidation state, electronic structure (spin state), possible coordination modes, composition and lability of its coordination site. The function of metal ions in metalloproteins and metalloenzimes is considered, but also the interaction between metal ions and nucleic acids, the transport and storage of metal ions, the use of metals in medicine, the detoxification processes. The importance of investigation tecniques such as electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), Mössbauer spectroscopy or magnetic behaviour is also pointed out.

The course aims at teaching the physical-chemical properties of colloidal systems and polymeric solutions and the spectroscopic and structural techniques that allow their characterisation. The student should acquire a basic background on physical-chemical properties of colloidal and polymeric solutions and common experimental methodologies used for their investigation.

The main objective of the course is to give a solid background in the structure, dynamics and function of biological macromolecules as provided by modelling and advanced experimental methods.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The objective of the Course is to provide a wider knowledge of Biochemistry, with particular regard to those areas of interdisciplinary research at the interface between Chemistry and Biochemistry (biosensors, immunochemical analyses, biotransformations and pharmaceutical research) which are very important for the preparation of a chemist.
The understanding of interdisciplinary topics requires the knowledge of the basic mechanisms of the functioning of living cells, the main techniques of protein purification and immunochemical techniques. Therefore, the structure, replication and transcription of DNA is illustrated, as well as the mechanism of protein synthesis and post-translational modifications, in particular of the biosynthesis of insulin and collagen. The importance of the recombinant DNA technology and protein engineering is exemplified by the industrial production of different forms of insulin and of pharmaceutical glycosylated proteins. The protocols for the determination of the glycosylation pattern is also illustrated. The ubiquitin-proteasome mediated degradation of proteins, the mechanisms of anticancer inhibitors of the proteasome and the studies on the protein aggregation associated with neurodegenerative disease, complete this part of the programme.
Biochemistry of the secondary metabolism. Examples of pharmaceutical applications of secondary metabolites. Biosynthesis of polyketides and of nonribosomal peptides: mechanisms of biosynthetic enzymes. Combinatorial biosynthesis.
Biotransformations. Immobilization of biocatalysts. Examples of industrial applications. Reactivity of enzymes in organic solvents and modulation of chemospecificity, regiospecificity e stereospecificity and prochiral specificity Examples of applications in biotechnology and organic synthesis of enzymes belonging to each of the classes of enzymes.


APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The students are stimulated to propose the strategic approaches and procedures to be adopted in order to find solutions to scientific problems related to the research topics presented during the Course, in particular those that require an interdisciplinary approach. This teaching approach allows to consolidate the acquired knowledge and also develops problem-solving abilities applied in new or unfamiliar environments within broader, multidisciplinary contexts.


MAKING JUDGEMENTS
The students are invited to prepare Journal club presentations on scientific publications illustrating how the issues were tackled and how the results of the work contribute the advancement of knowledge in the specific area of research. The discussions on the scientific work at the forefront of the research develop the ability to integrate knowledge, handle complexity and formulate judgements.

COMMUNICATION
The autonomous work based on scientific literature and the presentations of relations open to discussion, illustrating the processes whereby the research results were achieved contributes significantly to the communication abilities, in transferring the knowledge and the rationale to specialist and nonspecialist interlocutors.

LEARNING SKILLS
The modalities of teaching that involve topics on the frontier of the research and, in particular, the independent work that the students do in preparing the presentations based on scientific literature as well as the involvement of the students in the discussions on the research topics, develop the ability to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Comprehension of the role of the metal center as part of a biological molecule or of a synthetic model, looking at its nature, oxidation state, electronic structure (spin state), possible coordination modes, composition and lability of its coordination site. The function of metal ions in metalloproteins and metalloenzimes is considered, but also the interaction between metal ions and nucleic acids, the transport and storage of metal ions, the use of metals in medicine, the detoxification processes. The importance of investigation tecniques such as electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), Mössbauer spectroscopy or magnetic behaviour is also pointed out.