GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Course objectives

General expected learning outcomes Knowledge of the molecular mechanism underlying the relationship between the structure and the function of biological molecules, the cellular signalling pathways and cellular metabolism. Specific expected learning outcomes Knowledge and understanding Learning of the relationship between the structure and the function of main biological molecules such as proteins, glucids, lipis, nucleic acids and vitamins. Learning of the main metabolisms of nucleic acids and the relationship between genome-proteome. Learning of the main metabolic pathways and their regulation, and of the mechanisms of some cell signalling transduction. Applying knowledge and understanding Understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular physiopathology and the molecular activity of natural or synthetic pharmacological agents. Making judgements During the course students will be trained in oral or written tests with the aim to develop their communication skills and to verify their learning.

Channel 1
FABIO ALTIERI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Origin of life: Chemical evolution. The chemistry of carbon. Functional groups.Cellular structure: Organization of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Function of membranes and of subcellular organelles.Water: Chemical and physical properties: structure, hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bond, colligative properties, osmosis, diffusion, ionization. pH, pK. Biological buffers: phosphate, carbonate systems.Nucleotids and nucleic acids: Structure and function of nucleotides. Genetic code. Replication and trascription of nucleic acids. Protein synthesis.Amino acids: Structure and function of amino acids. Non standard amino acids. Acid-base properties of amino acids. Proteins: Peptidic bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Denaturation and folding of protein. Structure and function of keratin, fibroin, collagen, immunoglobulin. Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Pathologic hemoglobins. Heme structure. Binding curves of oxygen to hemoglobin and myoglobin. Cooperativity and allostery. Bohr effect. Transport of carbon dioxideEnzymatic catalysis: General properties of enzymes. Activation energy. Mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis. Michaelis-Menten equation. Double-reciprocal plot. Enzymatic inhibition. Enzyme regulation. Allosteric enzymes. Vitamins and coenzymes: structure and function of NAD and NADP, FMN, FAD (oxidized and reduced forms), vitamin A, C, D, E, K, lipoic acid, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamin pyrophosphate, biotin, pantothenic acid, folates, Sadenosyl methionine. Carbohydrates: Structure and function of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glyconjugates. Importance of olygosaccharides in cellular recognition and adhesion.Lipids: Structure and function of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphyngolipids, prostaglandins, sterols. Lipoproteins. Cell membranes: Structure and organization of membranes. Micelles and lipid bilayers. Lipid rafts. Caveolae. General mechanisms of membrane fusion. Membrane proteins. Transport mechanisms across membranes: ionophores, canals and pumps. Glucose transporters, P-type ATPase, F, ABC transporters. Biosignals: General types of signal transducers. Controlled ion channels: voltage-controlled ion channels for K +, Na +, Ca +2, acetyl choline receptor ion channel. Receptors: general design of gene regulation and activation of glycogen synthase by insulin, G protein-coupled receptors and cyclic second messaggeriAMP, Ca +2, phospholipase C. Signal transduction of adrenaline; general mechanism of regulation of gene expression by steroid hormones. Introduction to metabolism: The laws of thermodynamics. Free energy. The chemical equilibrium and the state standards. Role of nucleotide triphosphates and phosphorylated high-energy compounds. Redox reactions. Metabolism of carbohydrates: glycolysis, production of ethanol and lactic acid. Pentose phosphate pathway. Glycogen synthesis and degradation. Guconeogenesis. The citric acid cycle and its role in the anabolism. Structure and function of acetyl CoA and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Oxidative phosphorylation. Role of hormones and allosteric regulation. Lipid methabolism: oxidation of fatty acids, β-oxidation. Metabolism of ketone bodies. Synthesis of fatty acids and their esters. Steroid metabolism. Aminoacids metabolism: Removal of amino group, transamination and deamination. Sources and transport of ammonia. Urea cycle and its regulation. The fate of the carbon skeleton of amino acids, definition of glucogenic and ketogenic aminoacids.
Prerequisites
To better understand the Biochemistry of this course and achieve a proper knowledge, students should have learnt the basic information of mathematic, physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and biology taught in the first years of Pharmacy Course.
Books
. Siliprandi, Tettamanti "Medical biochemistry: structural, metabolic and functional" Piccin (fifth edition 2018) • Nelson, DL, Cox, M "Lehninger's principles of biochemistry" Zanichelli (fifth edition 2010) • Devlin, TM "Biochemistry" - Edises • Garrett, RH, Grisham, CM "Biochimica" Piccin (fifth edition 2014)
Frequency
The course is divided into a total of 80 hours of which 40 are held by Prof. Laura Cervoni
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.
FABIO ALTIERI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Origin of life: the prebiotic world and chemical evolution. The chemistry of carbon: functional groups. Cellular architecture: the organization, structure and composition of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; functional role of subcellular organelles. Physico-chemical properties of water: structure, solvation, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, van der Walls interactions, ionic bonds, colligative properties, osmosis, diffusion, ionization, acid-base chemistry, pH, pK, buffer systems, biological buffers of phosphate and carbonate. Nucleotides and nucleic acids: structure and function. Structure and function of amino acids: Structure and function of standard amino acids and some non-standard amino acids, ionization and acid-base properties of amino acids. Proteins: peptide bond, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary structure, supersecondary structures, denaturation and folding of proteins, structure and function of keratin, fibroin, collagen, immunoglobulins; structure and function of myoglobin and hemoglobin, structure of heme, saturation curves of myoglobin and hemoglobin, allosteria, cooperativity, Bohr effect, transport of carbon dioxide, pathological hemoglobins. Enzymatic catalysis: general properties of enzymes, activation energy, enzymatic catalysis mechanisms, steady state reaction kinetics, Michelis-Menten equation, reciprocal double graph. Enzyme inhibition. Mechanisms of regulation of enzymatic activity. Coenzymes and vitamins: structure and function of NAD and NADP, FMN, FAD (in the oxidized and reduced forms) vitamins A, C, D, E, K, lipoic acid, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamine pyrophosphate, biotin, pantothenic acid, folate, S -adenosyl methionine. Carbohydrates: structure and function of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, role of oligosaccharides in cell recognition and adhesion; the antigenic determinants of blood groups, lectins, glycoproteins. Lipids: structure and function of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, prostaglandins, sterols. Lipoproteins. Cell membranes: structure and organization of membranes, micelles and lipid bilayers, lipid rafts, caveoles, general mechanisms of membrane fusion, membrane proteins. Transport mechanisms across membranes: ionophores, channels, pumps, glucose transporters, P, F, V type ATPases, ABC transporters. Biosignaling: general types of signal transducers, voltage controlled ion channels for K +, Na +, Ca + 2, acetyl choline receptor ion channel, enzyme receptors, general lines of gene regulation and activation of glycogen synthase by insulin, G protein and second messenger coupled receptors, cyclic AMP, Ca + 2, phospholipase c, adrenaline signal transduction, general mechanism of regulation of gene expression by steroid hormones, the mechanism of vision. Introduction to metabolism: the laws of thermodynamics, free energy, role of triphosphate nucleotides and high energy phosphorylated compounds, redox reactions. Carbohydrate metabolism: the reactions of glycolysis, alcoholic and lactic fermentation, the pentose phosphate pathway, the synthesis and demolition of glycogen, glycogenin, gluconeogenesis. Citric acid cycle: the citric acid cycle, structure and function of coenzyme A, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, role of the citric acid cycle in anabolism. Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation: electron transfer chain in the mitochondrion, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, thermogenesis. Lipid metabolism: lipid absorption: chylomicrons and lipoproteins, oxidation of saturated fatty acids, general lines of oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids or fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms, ketone bodies and their metabolism, biosynthesis of fatty acids, biosynthesis of cholesterol , general outlines of the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, of membrane phospholipids. Metabolism of amino acids and proteins: digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids, catabolism of amino groups. Nitrogen excretion and urea cycle. General lines of amino acid catabolism. General lines of amino acid biosynthesis. The synthesis of neurotransmitters and hormones. Nucleotide metabolism: general lines of synthesis and degradation of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides.
Prerequisites
To better understand the Biochemistry of this course and achieve a proper knowledge, students should have learnt the basic information of mathematic, physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and biology taught in the first years of Pharmacy Course.
Books
Voet D, Voet J, Pratt CW “Fondamenti di biochimica” Zanichelli Devlin, TM "Biochimica" Edises Nelson DL, Cox M "I principi di biochimica di Lehninger" Zanichelli Siliprandi, Tettamanti "Biochimica medica: strutturale, metabolica e funzionale" Piccin Garrett RH, Grisham CM " Biochimica" Piccin
Teaching mode
Lessons in class for 104 hours according to the schedule defined by the Board of the Study Course, of which 56 provided by the teacher Fabio Altieri.
Frequency
Although optional, the teacher advises an active frequency for the achievement of the educational objectives of the course.
Exam mode
Talk at the end of the course aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge of the structure of biological macromolecules, cell metabolism and the main cellular signaling pathways. To pass the exam, the student must demonstrate that he has at least acquired sufficient knowledge of the structures of proteins and nucleic acids, their functioning and the main metabolic pathways, both catabolic and anabolic (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, synthesis and degradation of fatty acids, urea cycle and glycogen metabolism). To achieve scores above the minimum the student must demonstrate a greater degree of knowledge of the topics covered in the course and be able to connect them in a logical and consistent way.
Lesson mode
Lessons in class for 104 hours according to the schedule defined by the Board of the Study Course, of which 56 provided by the teacher Fabio Altieri.
LAURA CERVONI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Origin of life: Chemical evolution. The chemistry of carbon. Functional groups.Cellular structure: Organization of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Function of membranes and of subcellular organelles.Water: Chemical and physical properties: structure, hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bond, colligative properties, osmosis, diffusion, ionization. pH, pK. Biological buffers: phosphate, carbonate systems.Nucleotids and nucleic acids: Structure and function of nucleotides. Genetic code. Replication and trascription of nucleic acids. Protein synthesis.Amino acids: Structure and function of amino acids. Non standard amino acids. Acid-base properties of amino acids. Proteins: Peptidic bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Denaturation and folding of protein. Structure and function of keratin, fibroin, collagen, immunoglobulin. Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Pathologic hemoglobins. Heme structure. Binding curves of oxygen to hemoglobin and myoglobin. Cooperativity and allostery. Bohr effect. Transport of carbon dioxideEnzymatic catalysis: General properties of enzymes. Activation energy. Mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis. Michaelis-Menten equation. Double-reciprocal plot. Enzymatic inhibition. Enzyme regulation. Allosteric enzymes. Vitamins and coenzymes: structure and function of NAD and NADP, FMN, FAD (oxidized and reduced forms), vitamin A, C, D, E, K, lipoic acid, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamin pyrophosphate, biotin, pantothenic acid, folates, Sadenosyl methionine. Carbohydrates: Structure and function of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glyconjugates. Importance of olygosaccharides in cellular recognition and adhesion.Lipids: Structure and function of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphyngolipids, prostaglandins, sterols. Lipoproteins. Cell membranes: Structure and organization of membranes. Micelles and lipid bilayers. Lipid rafts. Caveolae. General mechanisms of membrane fusion. Membrane proteins. Transport mechanisms across membranes: ionophores, canals and pumps. Glucose transporters, P-type ATPase, F, ABC transporters. Biosignals: General types of signal transducers. Controlled ion channels: voltage-controlled ion channels for K +, Na +, Ca +2, acetyl choline receptor ion channel. Receptors: general design of gene regulation and activation of glycogen synthase by insulin, G protein-coupled receptors and cyclic second messaggeriAMP, Ca +2, phospholipase C. Signal transduction of adrenaline; general mechanism of regulation of gene expression by steroid hormones. Introduction to metabolism: The laws of thermodynamics. Free energy. The chemical equilibrium and the state standards. Role of nucleotide triphosphates and phosphorylated high-energy compounds. Redox reactions. Metabolism of carbohydrates: glycolysis, production of ethanol and lactic acid. Pentose phosphate pathway. Glycogen synthesis and degradation. Guconeogenesis. The citric acid cycle and its role in the anabolism. Structure and function of acetyl CoA and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Oxidative phosphorylation. Role of hormones and allosteric regulation. Lipid methabolism: oxidation of fatty acids, β-oxidation. Metabolism of ketone bodies. Synthesis of fatty acids and their esters. Steroid metabolism. Aminoacids metabolism: Removal of amino group, transamination and deamination. Sources and transport of ammonia. Urea cycle and its regulation. The fate of the carbon skeleton of amino acids, definition of glucogenic and ketogenic aminoacids.
Prerequisites
To better understand the Biochemistry of this course and achieve a proper knowledge, students should have learnt the basic information of mathematic, physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and biology taught in the first years of Pharmacy Course.
Books
. Siliprandi, Tettamanti "Medical biochemistry: structural, metabolic and functional" Piccin (fifth edition 2018) • Nelson, DL, Cox, M "Lehninger's principles of biochemistry" Zanichelli (fifth edition 2010) • Devlin, TM "Biochemistry" - Edises • Garrett, RH, Grisham, CM "Biochimica" Piccin (fifth edition 2014)
Frequency
The course is divided into a total of 80 hours of which 40 are held by Prof. Laura Cervoni
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.
LAURA CERVONI Lecturers' profile
Channel 2
LUCIA MARCOCCI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Origin of life: Chemical evolution. The chemistry of carbon. Functional groups.Cellular structure: Organization of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Function of membranes and of subcellular organelles.Water: Chemical and physical properties: structure, hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bond, colligative properties, osmosis, diffusion, ionization. pH, pK. Biological buffers: phosphate, carbonate systems.Nucleotids and nucleic acids: Structure and function of nucleotides. Genetic code. Replication and trascription of nucleic acids. Protein synthesis.Amino acids: Structure and function of amino acids. Non standard amino acids. Acid-base properties of amino acids. Proteins: Peptidic bond. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Denaturation and folding of protein. Structure and function of keratin, fibroin, collagen, immunoglobulin. Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Pathologic hemoglobins. Heme structure. Binding curves of oxygen to hemoglobin and myoglobin. Cooperativity and allostery. Bohr effect. Transport of carbon dioxideEnzymatic catalysis: General properties of enzymes. Activation energy. Mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis. Michaelis-Menten equation. Double-reciprocal plot. Enzymatic inhibition. Enzyme regulation. Allosteric enzymes. Vitamins and coenzymes: structure and function of NAD and NADP, FMN, FAD (oxidized and reduced forms), vitamin A, C, D, E, K, lipoic acid, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamin pyrophosphate, biotin, pantothenic acid, folates, Sadenosyl methionine. Carbohydrates: Structure and function of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, glyconjugates. Importance of olygosaccharides in cellular recognition and adhesion.Lipids: Structure and function of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphyngolipids, prostaglandins, sterols. Lipoproteins. Cell membranes: Structure and organization of membranes. Micelles and lipid bilayers. Lipid rafts. Caveolae. General mechanisms of membrane fusion. Membrane proteins. Transport mechanisms across membranes: ionophores, canals and pumps. Glucose transporters, P-type ATPase, F, ABC transporters. Biosignals: General types of signal transducers. Controlled ion channels: voltage-controlled ion channels for K +, Na +, Ca +2, acetyl choline receptor ion channel. Receptors: general design of gene regulation and activation of glycogen synthase by insulin, G protein-coupled receptors and cyclic second messaggeriAMP, Ca +2, phospholipase C. Signal transduction of adrenaline; general mechanism of regulation of gene expression by steroid hormones. Introduction to metabolism: The laws of thermodynamics. Free energy. The chemical equilibrium and the state standards. Role of nucleotide triphosphates and phosphorylated high-energy compounds. Redox reactions. Metabolism of carbohydrates: glycolysis, production of ethanol and lactic acid. Pentose phosphate pathway. Glycogen synthesis and degradation. Guconeogenesis. The citric acid cycle and its role in the anabolism. Structure and function of acetyl CoA and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Oxidative phosphorylation. Role of hormones and allosteric regulation. Lipid methabolism: oxidation of fatty acids, β-oxidation. Metabolism of ketone bodies. Synthesis of fatty acids and their esters. Steroid metabolism. Aminoacids metabolism: Removal of amino group, transamination and deamination. Sources and transport of ammonia. Urea cycle and its regulation. The fate of the carbon skeleton of amino acids, definition of glucogenic and ketogenic aminoacids.
Prerequisites
To better understand the Biochemistry of this course and achieve a proper knowledge, students should have learnt the basic information of mathematic, physics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and biology taught in the first years of Pharmacy Course.
Books
. Siliprandi, Tettamanti "Medical biochemistry: structural, metabolic and functional" Piccin (fifth edition 2018) • Nelson, DL, Cox, M "Lehninger's principles of biochemistry" Zanichelli (fifth edition 2010) • Devlin, TM "Biochemistry" - Edises • Garrett, RH, Grisham, CM "Biochimica" Piccin (fifth edition 2014)
Frequency
The course is divided into a total of 80 hours of which 40 are held by Prof. Laura Cervoni
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.
LUCIA MARCOCCI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Origin of life: the prebiotic world and chemical evolution. The chemistry of carbon: functional groups. Cellular architecture: the organization, structure and composition of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; functional role of subcellular organelles. Physico-chemical properties of water: structure, solvation, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, van der Walls interactions, ionic bonds, colligative properties, osmosis, diffusion, ionization, acid-base chemistry, pH, pK, buffer systems, biological buffers of phosphate and carbonate. Nucleotides and nucleic acids: structure and function of nucleotides, modified nucleotides, cyclic nucleotides, structure of DNA, tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, small RNA. Structure and function of amino acids: Structure and function of standard amino acids and some non-standard amino acids, ionization and acid-base properties of amino acids. Proteins: peptide bond, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary structure, super secondary structures, denaturation and folding of proteins, structure and function of keratin, fibroin, collagen, immunoglobulins; structure and function of myoglobin and hemoglobin, structure of heme, saturation curves of myoglobin and hemoglobin, allostery, cooperativity, Bohr effect, transport of carbon dioxide, pathological hemoglobins. Enzymatic catalysis: general properties of enzymes, activation energy, enzymatic catalysis mechanisms, steady state reaction kinetics, Michelis-Menten equation, reciprocal double graph. Enzyme inhibition. Mechanisms of regulation of enzymatic activity. Coenzymes and vitamins: structure and function of NAD and NADP, FMN, FAD (in the oxidized and reduced forms) vitamins A, C, D, E, K, lipoic acid, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamine pyrophosphate, biotin, pantothenic acid, folate, S -adenosyl methionine. Carbohydrates: structure and function of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, role of oligosaccharides in cell recognition and adhesion; the antigenic determinants of blood groups, lectins, glycoproteins. Lipids: structure and function of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, prostaglandins, sterols. Lipoproteins. Cell membranes: structure and organization of membranes, micelles and lipid bilayers, lipid rafts, caveoles, general mechanisms of membrane fusion, membrane proteins. Transport mechanisms across membranes: ionophores, channels, pumps, glucose transporters, P, F, V type ATPases, ABC transporters. Biosignaling: general types of signal transducers, voltage controlled ion channels for K +, Na +, Ca + 2, acetyl choline receptor ion channel, enzyme receptors, general lines of gene regulation and activation of glycogen synthase by insulin, G protein and second messenger coupled receptors, cyclic AMP, Ca + 2, phospholipase c, adrenaline signal transduction, general mechanism of regulation of gene expression by steroid hormones, the mechanism of vision. Introduction to metabolism: the laws of thermodynamics, free energy, role of triphosphate nucleotides and high energy phosphorylated compounds, redox reactions. Carbohydrate metabolism: the reactions of glycolysis, alcoholic and lactic fermentation, the pentose phosphate pathway, the synthesis and demolition of glycogen, glycogenin, gluconeogenesis. Citric acid cycle: the citric acid cycle, structure and function of coenzyme A, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, role of the citric acid cycle in anabolism. Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation: electron transfer chain in the mitochondrion, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, thermogenesis. Lipid metabolism: lipid absorption: chylomicrons and lipoproteins, oxidation of saturated fatty acids, general lines of oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids or fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms, ketone bodies and their metabolism, biosynthesis of fatty acids, biosynthesis of cholesterol, general outlines of the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, and membrane phospholipids. Metabolism of amino acids and proteins: digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids, catabolism of amino groups. Nitrogen excretion and urea cycle. General lines of amino acid catabolism. Generals on amino acid biosynthesis. The synthesis of neurotransmitters and hormones. General outlines on protein synthesis, genetic code, ribosomes, mRNA translation. Nucleotide metabolism: general lines of synthesis and degradation of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. . General outlines on DNA replication and repair, RNA transcription and maturation.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of mathematics, physic, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology taught in previous courses.
Books
I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger, Nelson et al., Zanichelli Biochimica, Devlin,Edises Biochimica Medica, Siliprandi Tettamanti, Piccin Fondamenti di Biochimica, Voet, Zanichelli Biochimica, Mathews, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana Biochimica, Campbell, EdiSES Principi di Biochimica, Tymoczko, Stryer, Zanichelli As a summary book: Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger, Nelson et al., Zanichelli
Frequency
Mandatory
Exam mode
Questions on at least five or six topics with chemical formulas, graphs, schemes of the macromolecule cellular localization and structure, and metabolic reactions.
Bibliography
PubMed
Lesson mode
The subjects are presented by the teacher through slides. Exercises in class on enzymatic kinetic. Summary of the topics shown in the previous lesson. Questions to the class to stimulate knowledge about the connection among biological processes.
  • Lesson code10595433
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CoursePharmacy
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDBIO/10
  • CFU10
  • Subject areaDiscipline Biologiche e Farmacologiche