AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

One of the professional opportunities for graduates in Bioengineering is the design/implementation of instrumentation for the analysis of metabolites, as possible markers of pathologies. The general objective of the Biochemistry unit is to provide concepts of biochemistry and clinical biochemistry to understand the meaning of metabolite evaluations, as indicators of (dys)metabolism, and to acquire a language that allows the Bioengineer to interact with physician/biotechnologists in the design/implementation of equipment for biomedical diagnosis and/or research. Specific objectives include: 1. To recognize and describe the main biomolecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides); 2. To understand and discuss the role of enzymatic regulation (also through knowledge of signaling and kinetics) in the different metabolic pathways; 3. To distinguish the main anabolic and catabolic pathways, connecting them in different metabolic or dysmetabolic conditions, with a focus on the (dys)functional integration between the different human organs.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will learn to recognize, write and describe the structure of the main biomolecules (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides).

In addition, they will be able to distinguish the main anabolic and catabolic pathways, connecting them in the different metabolic conditions.

They will be able to understand and discuss the role of enzymatic regulation (also with knowledge of Kinetics and thermodynamic) in the different metabolic pathways.  

Students should be able to correlate the signaling pathways activating different metabolic response in different organs, with a focus on their (dys)functional integration.

Finally, students will recognize the main metabolites/enzymes of diagnostic interest and the analytical methods currently in use.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal teaching.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (DSA), for disabilities or other educational needs, are invited to contact the teacher and the School/Department disability representative at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Structure, properties and functions of aminoacids and proteins.
• Enzymology. Enzymatic kinetics. Michaelis-Menten's equation. Enzyme inhibition. Allosteric enzymes. Properties and classification of enzymes. Vitamins as coenzymes.
• Proteins that bind and transport oxygen; myoglobin and hemoglobin: structural properties and saturation curves. Cooperativeness.
• Principles of bioenergetics and biosignalling.
• Role of ATP and other phosphorous compounds. General principles of metabolism, catabolism, anabolism.
• Carbohydrate metabolism: Glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and regulation. Ketone bodies. Glycogen synthesis, glycogen lysis and their reciprocal regulation in muscle and liver. Pentose phosphate pathway: oxidative and non-oxidative phase, metabolic meaning and regulation. Glutathione.
• The citric acid cycle. Pyruvate in mitochondria. Pyruvate dehydrogenase. AcetilCoA. Cycle regulation.
• Oxidative phosphorylation. Flow of electrons on respiratory chain complexes. Structures and functions of cofactors involved in the transport of electrons. Proton gradient formation. Chemiosmotic coupling. ATP synthase. Structure and function. Coupling of ATP synthesis with the proton gradient and oxygen consumption.
• Lipid metabolism. Lipases and regulation of the metabolism of triacylglycerol. Fatty acids: activation, transport mechanism, β-oxidation. Regulation. Energy yield for palmitate oxidation. Biosynthesis of fatty acids and triacylglycerol.
• Protein catabolism. Transamination and deamination of glutamate. Ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids. Urea cycle and its regulation.
• Metabolic correlations between organs.
• Main methods of assaying metabolites and enzymes of diagnostic interest. Use of spectrofluorimetric analysis, chromatography (HPLC) and immunometric techniques.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11159/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The level of aim achievements will be verified with a discussion by the student, that will start from a given subject on a specific metabolic pathway (with knowledge of the involved metabolites and enzymes) from which connections to other metabolic pathways, regulation systems and/or correlation among different organs will be developed. Finally, the discussion will focus on the recognition of metabolites useful for diagnostic purpose and the description of the appropriate test for their assessment.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.