In this course, interdisciplinary topics related to organic chemistry, biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry will be explored.
Provide a general idea of various aspects of organic chemistry related to biology, in particular concerning the structure and functioning of proteins (enzymes, receptors, ion channels) and oligosaccharides and their interactions with potential drugs.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES (DETAILS)
1. Know and be able to describe the structues of the biomolecules (proteins and nucleic acids and carbohydrates).
2. Illustrate and discuss the mechanism of catalysis of the main classes of enzymes.
3.Know and understand the difference between the active ingredient of a drug, a lead compound and a biologically active molecule.
4.Know the main biological targets of drugs.
5.Know and understand the different types of enzyme inhibition.
6.Predict the type of inhibition based on the molecular structure.
7.Know and understand the different types of drug-receptor interactions with related examples.
AIMS
The students will be guided to approximately understand the issues associated with drug discovery and with the study of proteins and nucleic acids.
the students should have already acquired the learinig objectives of the fundamental courses of Organic Chemistry, in particular Organic Chemistry 1, Organic Chemistry 2 and Laboratory of Organic chemistry.
The course includes 4 CFU, corresponding to 32 hours of tradional lessons. The attendance is not compulsory but, for statistical means, it wil be anyway monitored.
Protein: secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure Enzymes: kynetics, catalysis mechanism, examples, classification . Nucleic acids: structure, RNA function. Determination of primary structure. PCR. Topoisomers. Genetic mutations. Principle of drug discovery: Enzyme inhibitors, receptors, ion channels. Glycochemistry. Applications in the fields of antiviral, antitumor drugs, antibiotics, antiinflammatory drugs, anti-asthma drugs, drugs for cardiovascular diseases and so on.
All the slides used during the lessons and any other teaching materials will be available on the aul@web page of this course.
In addition, the Teacher suggests the following texts for those who wish to explore certain topics in more depth.
Ricevimento: The teacher is available to receive students by contacting her by email at the following address: lisa.moni@unige.it
March 3, 2026
The exam will be oral. Only the subjects treated during the lessons (as reported in the slides deposited in aulaweb) will be object of the exam. Students must register to the exam at least 48 hours in advance on https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami/prenotazione
The oral exam is always carried out by the two teachers and will last at least 30 minutes. In this way, the commission is definitely able to verify with high accuracy if the student has reached or not the learning outcomes.
During the oral exam the student must demonstrate to have reached the learning outcomes, both orally and (most importantly) writing formulas, chemical equations, mechanisms.
When the commission will judge that the learning oucomes have not been reached, the students will be invited to repeat the exam in one of the subsequent dates.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.
