BIOCHEMISTRY

To provide students with basic knowledge of the structure of the main classes of biomolecules—proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates—and of cellular organization, the catalytic activity of enzymes and their regulation, the fundamental principles of metabolism, and the main metabolic pathways.

Furthermore, with reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to the acquisition of the following transferable skills:

1. Knowledge and understanding: ability to describe, using appropriate biochemical terminology, the molecular bases of biological systems and processes, the main metabolic pathways, and their integration. Students are expected to demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge of the relationship between diet, nutrition, and health, based on an understanding of the specific metabolic role of the different classes of nutrients and bioactive compounds present in foods.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Individual and group exercises aimed at assessing students’ understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

3. Learning skills: Students will be able to update and expand their knowledge independently by consulting textbooks, scientific articles, and online platforms.

4. Making judgements: Formative assessments conducted throughout the course, aimed at enabling students to self-assess their understanding and learning of previously completed teaching units, as well as to develop an informed evaluation of the teaching activities.

5. Communication skills: Ability to provide accurate definitions of the levels of structural organization of enzyme proteins according to their different degrees of structural complexity. Ability to describe, using appropriate biochemical terminology, the specific metabolic processes occurring in organs and tissues, as well as their interrelationships and regulation.

Frontal teaching, power-point lessons, exercises and cooperative learning.

Adequate knowledge of cell structure and the various cellular compartments, as well as of General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, is required.

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended.

Biochemistry Course Syllabus:

1) General introduction to the course

2) Amino Acids and Proteins: Structure, properties, functions, and dietary sources. Hemoglobin and myoglobin.

3) Enzymes: Definition, distribution, nomenclature, mechanism of action, specificity, affinity, and isoenzymes. Enzyme kinetics. Enzyme regulation.

4) Carbohydrates: Definition, functions, nomenclature, and dietary sources.

5) Lipids: Definition, functions, nomenclature, and dietary sources.

6) Nucleic Acids: Structure and functions.

7) Cell Signaling and Hormones: Receptor classification, molecular mechanisms of hormone action, and signal transduction molecules.

8) Apoptosis and Necrosis.

9) Carbohydrate Metabolism: Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway, glycogenesis/glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis.

10) Lipid Metabolism: De novo fatty acid biosynthesis and β-oxidation.

11) Protein Metabolism: Metabolic fate of nitrogen.

12) Metabolic Regulation during the Fed–Fasting Cycle: Gluconeogenesis, glyceroneogenesis, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and ketone body metabolism.

13) Antioxidants in Food and the Role of Free Radicals.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

1) Leuzzi U., Bellocco E. e Barreca D. Biochimica della Nutrizione, Ed. Zanichelli

2) Nelson D.L. e Michael M. Cox M.M. I Principi Di Biochimica di Lehninger, Ed. Zanichelli.

3) Nelson e Cox. Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger, Ed. Zanichelli

4) Abali E., Cline S., Franklin D., Viselli S. Le basi della biochimica, Ed. Zanichelli

5) Sorrenti V. e Vanella L. Aspetti Molecolari dell’Apoptosi e Ruolo Fisiopatologico, Ed. Piccin.

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the referent teacher CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department.

The final grade will be awarded according to the following criteria:

• Fail:
  The student does not demonstrate the minimum knowledge required of the fundamental contents of the course and does not show sufficient ability to understand, integrate, and apply the main biochemical concepts. The answers to the multiple-choice questions are predominantly incorrect, and the answers to the open-ended questions reveal insufficient or fragmented knowledge, or significant conceptual gaps.

• Grade 18–21:
  The student demonstrates a minimum knowledge of the main contents of the course. They are able to recognize and correctly identify the main concepts in the multiple-choice questions and provide sufficiently relevant answers to the open-ended questions, although with limited ability to connect and apply the knowledge acquired.

• Grade 22–25:
  The student demonstrates a fair knowledge of the main contents of the course. They correctly answer most of the multiple-choice questions and provide relevant and sufficiently well-developed answers to the open-ended questions. They demonstrate a fair ability to integrate the knowledge acquired and apply it to simple biochemical situations and problems.

• Grade 26–28:
  The student demonstrates good knowledge of the course contents and an adequate ability to understand the underlying principles and relationships. They correctly answer the multiple-choice questions and address the open-ended questions in a relevant, clear, and sufficiently structured manner. They demonstrate good ability to integrate and apply the knowledge acquired, including to more complex situations and problems.

• Grade 29–30 and distinction (cum laude):
  The student demonstrates thorough, comprehensive, and well-organized knowledge of the course contents. They answer the multiple-choice questions with a high degree of accuracy and address the open-ended questions in a complete, relevant, and rigorous manner, demonstrating full command of biochemical terminology. They are able to integrate, critically analyze, and independently apply the knowledge acquired, including to complex situations and problems. Distinction (cum laude) is awarded in cases of outstanding, comprehensive, and particularly solid preparation, characterized by highly accurate answers and full mastery of the course contents and their application.