LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching of Biochemistry deepens in the light of the propaedeutic knowledge acquired in the first semester, the main topics of Biochemistry correlating the contents to the educational objectives of the student of motor sciences.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching of Biochemistry deepens the knowledge acquired in the Biochemistry propaedeutic exam of the first semester and the main topics of Biochemistry, correlating the contents to the educational objectives of the student of motor sciences. The course aims to provide students with the fundamentals of Biochemistry, starting from the structure-function of biomolecules to the basic concepts of metabolism. The objectives of the course are to understand the molecular basis of biological systems, the biochemical mechanisms that regulate cellular metabolic activities through knowledge of the structure, properties, function, interactions and metabolism of biomolecules; production and conservation of metabolic energy.

Three main purposes:

1. To provide the theoretical competences and notions related to the knowledge and the role of biological macromolecules in biochemical processes, to identify the functional groups of biomolecules starting from the simplest components (monosaccharides, amino acids, nucleotides), up to the examples of organization of complex molecular systems

2. Provide key concepts regarding oxygen transport and enzymatic catalysis and its regulation

3. Provide key concepts on basic metabolic functions and their regulation in the fasting and nutritional phases.

PREREQUISITES

Good knowledge of general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and cell biology. The student must have passed the Cell Biology and Biochemical Propaedeutics exam.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be taught with lectures and discussions with students to test the correlation between metabolic activities and an individual's daily activities. These discussions will focus on the correlations between metabolic pathways, the regulation of metabolism during fasting and during nutrition, and the major metabolic pathways involved in motor activities and during intense muscular exercise.

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SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is divided into four distinct phases.

In the first phase, chemical reactions are characterized based on their biochemical relevance. Identification of nutrients is another aspect of this phase that will allow the evaluation of the availability of these molecules and their energy content.

In the second phase the role of oxygen in living organisms and in particular in humans will be considered. We study the role of hemoglobin in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, the regulation on the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen by pH and 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate, and in the elimination of carbon dioxide.

In the third phase, the utilization of the various nutrients for the production of forms of energy useful to the tissues of our organism is analyzed. The organization of these transformations into metabolic pathways and their intertwining will be one of the key aspects of this phase. The interconversion of energy forms according to the purposes of the cells and the coordinated regulation of these metabolisms will conclude the phase.

In the fourth phase, the systems of storage of recovered excess nutrients will be explored.  The various anabolic metabolisms will also be considered in reaction to body weight control, one of the aspects relevant to motor activity at all levels.

In the fifth step, the integration of activities between organs during different nutritional states and during motor activity is examined.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Student's choice of up-to-date textbooks available.

Recommended:

 "The Basics of Biochemistry" by Denise R. Ferrier II Edition

Ed. Zanichelli

or

"Lehninger's Introduction to Biochemistry" 4th Edition, David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox. Zanichelli Ed.