LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Propaedeutics Biochemistry teaching gives students a basic knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry, necessary for learning the main notions of Biochemistry.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student knows:

• the basic concepts of the chemistry with particular reference to the concepts of kinetic and chemical thermodynamics.

• the general concepts of organic chemistry and reactivity of functional groups

• the aqueous solutions and the calculation of the pH of acids and bases

• structure and reactivity of biomolecules

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons . Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Chemical nomenclature

Number of oxidation. basic and acidic oxides. Hydroxides. Acids. inorganic salts

The biomolecules

Chemical composition (C, H, O, N, S, P). chemical bonds and chemical interactions (electrostatic, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic bonding). polarity concept. Electronegativity. Three-dimensional structure. Isomers and isomeric configuration and conformation.

Organic Chemistry

Functional groups of organic chemistry and biomolecules. Functional group  of organic chemistry Structures. Principal reactions of functional groups. Polyfunctional compounds.

Chemical reactivity.

The reactions that occur in the cells. Reactions of oxidation-reduction, carbon-carbon bonds, groups transfer reactions, condensation and hydrolysis reactions, isomerization reactions, synthesis reactions. Examples applicable to biochemistry (biochemical redox)

Chemical kinetics. chemical balance. Equilibrium constant. Le Chatelier's principle .Rate of reaction. Factors which limit the rate of reaction. Catalysis and catalysts.

Bioenergetics.

Thermodynamics and metabolism. I and II law of thermodynamics. Spontaneity of a reaction. Enthalpy, entropy, standard free energy. Free energy. Standard free energy. Free energy and equilibrium constant.

Water.

Structure. Weak interactions in aqueous environment. Water as solvent and as reactant. Amphoteric properties of water. Ionization of water. Colligative properties of aqueous solutions.

Properties of aqueous solutions.

pH concept. Acids and bases. Strength of acids and bases. Ka and Kb. Conjugated acids and bases. Calculation of pH for weak and strong acids and bases. Buffer solutions. The biological buffers.

Optical isomerism.

Carbon chiral and optical isomerism. Configurations D and L.

Carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and their structures. Glycosidic bonds.

Lipids.

Classification of lipids Saturated and unsaturated fats. Acylglycerols. Phospholipids. Waxes ,Terpenes and steroids.

Amino acids and proteins.

Amino acid structure. The side chains of amino acids. Peptide bond.

Nucleotides.

Nitrogen bases. Nucleosides and nucleotides. ATP. Nucleotides present in coenzymes.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Santaniello - Alberghina - Coletta - Marini Principi di chimica generale e organica Editore Piccin

Luciano Binaglia, Bruno Giardina Chimica e propedeutica biochimica Editore  Mc Graw-Hill.

Stefani, M., Taddei, N. Chimica Biochimica e Biologia Applicata Editore Zanichelli.

Roberti R., Bistocchi G.A., Elementi di Chimica e Biochimica Editore McGraw-Hill

NELSON David L , COX Michael M INTRODUZIONE ALLA BIOCHIMICA DI LEHNINGER Editore Zanichelli.