APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY

Course objectives

Students will be able to plan experiments and resolve practical problems related to identification, analysis and study of the functions of biomolecules. he course was conceived as a tool for scientific research in the biochemical sector, guiding students towards biomedical design related to the preclinical development of new potential drugs. Of the theoretical programs underlying the most important methodologies in biochemical studies with particular attention to the logic of the setting of experiments and data collection. nglese The course should acquire the basic knowledge of the main methods and instruments used in biochemical laboratories. This is aimed at understanding the definition of experimental models, with particular reference to those in vitro, and the main techniques used in research in the biomedical field and in the study of biomolecules for the development of new potential drugs. Students will be able to evaluate in an autonomous and critical way possible different experimental procedures present in the topics covered in the course; know how to formulate models of operational schemes for the characterization and study of molecules of biological interest. The acquisition of self- assessment skills will be stimulated through the active participation of students in the discussions during the lessons and during the guided visits in the biochemical laboratory. Students will be able to know how to expose the principles on which the main methods used for biochemical studies are based in correct language and with language properties. The communication skills will be evaluated during classroom discussions, during the presentation of in-depth studies of topics of particular interest by the student and during the oral exam of the final exam, in which the student will have to explain, with appropriate technical and biochemical terminology, the arguments developed during the course. Learning skills will be assessed during the course of the course by involving students in debates and discussions on the topics covered and during the presentation of in-depth studies of topics of particular interest by the student. The knowledge acquired during the course provide the tools to understand some topics that will be covered in disciplines subject to subsequent examinations with a high degree of autonomy.

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LAURA CERVONI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Biochemical Methods: General principles of biochemical methodologies (i.e. designing, running an experiment and interpreting its data) Separation techniques (proteins, DNA, RNA) - purification from biological sources (cells, tissues) - fractionation of mixtures (centrifugation, precipitation) - chromatography (gel filtration, ion exchange, affinity, partition, adsorption, HPLC) - Dialysis and ultrafiltration) Analysis techniques (proteins, DNA, RNA) - electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, Isoelectrofocusing; 2D-PAGE and applications in proteomics, Agarose) - quantitative assays (spectrophotometric, UV-VIS, Fluorescence, polarized light; luminometry; radioisotopic) - immunochemical techniques (use of antibodies and their production, nucleic acid blotting, ELISA, RIA, Immunoprecipitation, Flow cytometry) - PCR and RealTime-PCR - Gene expression analysis: DNA microarray Production of recombinant proteins. - cloning - expression systems (prokaryotes, eukaryotes) - mutagenesis (site specific and random) - purification of recombinant proteins - Recombinant vaccines and DNA vaccines Enzymes and clinical enzymology: - Therapeutic enzymes (Enzymes as drugs, Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT); stability of enzymes; modification of enzymes with PEG) - Enzymopathies (i.e. disorders of the metabolism of: nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids; Lysosomal accumulation; mitochondrial and peroxisome disorders) - Biosensors
Prerequisites
To better understand the Biochemistry of this course and achieve a proper knowledge, students should have learnt the basic information of Biochemistry.
Books
• Biochemistry text • Bonaccorsi MC, Contestabile R, Di Salvo M, “Biochemical methodologies” - Ambrosiana Publishing House. Zanichelli exclusive distribution (2019) 2nd edition • Maccarone M "Biochemical and biomolecular methodologies" Zanichelli • Wilson K, Walker J, "Biochemistry and molecular biology: Principles and techniques" - Raffaello Cortina Editore (2006) • Didactic material provided by the teacher
Exam mode
At the end of the course the teacher will evaluate the degree of learning of the subject by the candidate with an interview.
  • Lesson code1038172
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePharmacy
  • CurriculumCurriculum unico
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDBIO/10
  • CFU6