Medicine and Surgery

Biosignaling: classes of hormones. Receptor families (GPCR, RTK, NRTK, oligomeric ion channels) and second messengers (cAMP, cGMP, IP3, Ca2+). Signal transduction. Structural basis of adrenergic receptor coupled to G proteins: the beta-adrenergic receptor. Bacterial toxins and ADP-ribosylation. Insulin receptor and IRS-1. Ras and MAP kinase cascade. Nitric oxide signaling. Hormonal regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Signal transduction in Sensory Perception: vision and olfaction and gustation. Integration of metabolism: Fed state, fasting state, starvation. Different tissues/organs utilization of different fuels also in relation to the metabolic state (fed/fasting). Type I and Type II diabetes.

Requirements: In order to sit the exam, the student must have passed Chemistry and Introduction to Biochemistry (mandatory) as well as the Biochemistry I progress test. In case of failure in the Progress test the student will be admitted to sit the Biochemistry exam and examined on the whole programme (I and II) as oral exam

Suggested textbooks: DL Nelson & MM Cox - Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (7th edition) D. Voet, JG Voet, CW Pratt - Fundamentals of Biochemsitry- Life at the Molecular Level (5th edition)

Attendance is mandatory

Evaluation methods: The oral exam for the entire course of Biochemistry II will assess the following: 1) evaluation of the student's learning on specific metabolic pathways, dealt with in detail during the course, their points of control and the associated pathologies; 2) role of specific hormones in the global control of anabolism and catabolism at the level of the whole organism or specific tissues; 3) mechanisms of signal transduction and the inter-connections between the different metabolisms; 4) ability to write chemical structures of intermediates in the metabolism for which students have received a detailed list.