Ateneo - UPO

BIOCHEMISTRY I
Carbohydrates. Lipids. Amino acids. Protein structure. Protein class structure-function relationship. Transport proteins. Enzymes. Reaction rate. Regulatory mechanisms. Vitamins and cofactors. Reporting Mechanisms. Receptor Classes (Trimeric G protein proteins coupled, dependent voltage and dependent ligands, cADPR and NAADP, PKC Endocannabinoids, Tirosin kinase receptors, insulin receptor, tyrosine phosphatase receptor-like receptors, serine / threonine kinase receptors, cGMP signaling -dependent and NO, integrins). Bioenergetics. Cellular respiration. Metabolism.

BIOCHEMISTRY II
CARBOIDRATE METABOLISM. LIPID METABOLISM. KREBS CYCLE AND OXIDATING FOSFORILATION. PROTEIC METABOLISM. NUCLEOTHYL METABOLISM. METABOLISM OF EMA AND MARZIALE. ROS and cytochrome P450. INSULIN AND GLUCOSE. IPOTALAMIC-IPO-ISSUE AXIS and its peripheral targets. METABOLISM INTEGRATION.

Molecular Biology
Introduction
Molecular basis of epigenetics: structure and regulation of chromatin
Transcription Adjustment
RNA maturation and post-transcriptional control
Non-coding RNAs

Biochimica I & II
• La Biochimica di Thomas M. Devlin di D' Andrea - Altieri - Baldanzi - Borriello - Devlin - AAVV 2023
• Siliprandi e Tettamanti. Biochimica Medica PICCIN.
• Strayer. Biochimica. Zanichelli.
• Nelson Cox. Principi di biochimica del Lenninger. Zanichelli
• Campbell, Farrel. Biochimica Edises.
• MARKS. Biochimica Medica, un approccio clinico. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Biologia Molecolare
• Alberts et al. “Biologia Molecolare dell Cellula” V ed. Zanichelli
• Lodish et al. “Biologia molecolare della cellula”, IV ed. Zanichelli
• Lewin “Il gene X”, ed. Zanichelli
• B. Lewin et al.: Il Gene 2°ed compatta (Zanichelli, 2011)
• Amaldi et al. “Biologia Molecolare”, seconda edizione (Ambrosiana)
• Michael M Cox Biologia Molecolare (Zanichelli)

BIOCHEMISTRY I
At the end of the course the student must be able to describe, in molecular terms, the structure of the biological matter, knowing the role of the structure on the functionality of the macromolecules themselves.
It will also have to show mastery of the main signal transduction mechanisms, knowing how to focus the role in cell signaling processes.
BIOCHEMISTRY II
To know and explain molecular, subcellular, cellular and tissue molecular mechanisms involved in digestion, absorption, transport, storage, catabolism, interconversion, excretion, biosynthesis, carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, lipids, nucleotides, Even in relation to different functional states of the organism.
Molecular Biology
Understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression and their modulation in the pathology

Positive evaluation in Chemistry and Prophecutic Biochemistry Exams.
Frequency of Biology and Anatomy courses.

DIDACTIC METHODS: lessons in presence or at distance, exercises and simulations
Biochemistry I: frontal classes and elearning platform (DIR), self-evaluation tests
Biochemistry II: frontal classes and elearning platform (DIR)
Molecular Biology: frontal classes and elearning platform (DIR)

Available to the student:
Slides provided by the teacher
Lessons on the elearning platform
Reference websites
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request
specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse

e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-
students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted
the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination
modalities, concerning academic aspects.

There will be frequent self-assessment tests and a written assessment test in itinere of Biochemistry I and Molecular Biology.
The exam relating to the ENTIRE INTEGRATED COURSE can be taken at the end of the entire course, second year and coincides with the oral biochemistry II.
The final grade is established on the basis of the results obtained in the writings of Biochemistry I and Molecular Biology and in the oral exam of Biochemistry II. These grades are weighted for the CFU of the relative modules and for the ability to integrate the contents of the various modules in line with the training objectives of the course.

STRUCTURAL BIOCHEMISTRY and cellular roles of:
Simple and complex carbohydrates
Lipids including glycerolipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol and its derivatives.
Amino acids and polypeptides (with chemical properties and study methods)
Proteins: structure, folding and study methods. Post translational modifications.
Structure-function relationship of different protein classes (immunoglobulins, contractile proteins, matrix proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, integrins).
Transport proteins with focus on O2-binding proteins, biochemical properties and regulation, hemoglobinopathies.
Enzymes: mechanism of action, classification, kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. Enzymatic kinetics and fundamental kinetic parameters.
Mechanisms of enzymatic activity regulation. Activation / inhibition mechanisms, allosteria and kinetic treatment
Mechanisms of catalysis with examples, fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins and cofactors (structure, bioavailability, mechanism of action of derived or synthesized cofactors).

SIGNALING MECHANISMS.
Generalities and characteristics of signaling processes. Mathematical treatment and binding parameters.
Classes of receptors with mechanisms of action and effector systems: 1) G protein-coupled receptors (adenylate cyclase, phospholipase, IP3 and diacylglycerol, Ca-dependent signaling) 2) voltage gated and ligand gated channels, 3) tyrosine kinase receptors (Ras / MAPK, PI3K / PKB, Src, Cbl), 4) tyrosine kinase associated receptors (Jak-Stat), 5) tyrosine phosphatase with receptor-like structure, 6) serine / threonine kinase receptors 7) receptors with cyclase guanylate activity (signaling cGMP-dependent, NO), 8) integrin signaling.
Insights: endocannabinoids, biochemical mechanisms of sensory perception, insulin receptor.

BIOENERGETICS AND METABOLISM
Basal metabolism, energy requirement. Molecules with high energy content, ATP. Role of redox cofactors in catabolic and anabolic processes. Metabolic compartmentalization.
Metabolic pathways and cycles, catabolic and anabolic processes. Role of oxygen.
Biochemical aspects of digestion and the role of the pancreas

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Human and comparative genomics. Mapping of the human genome. Molecular basis of epigenetics: nucleosomes and chromatin.
Regulation of gene expression. Examples of epigenetic diseases. DNA methylation: biological significance, mechanisms, inactivation of the X chromosome, imprinting.
Transcription regulation: transcription and regulation in eukaryotes with focus on RNA polymerase II, promoter structure, Pol II basal factors and initiation complex assembly. Role of the Ombudsman.
Transcription factors and their modular and dimeric organization. Interactions with chromatin remodeling and histone modification complexes.
Mechanisms of transcription repression. Strategies for regulating the function of transcription activators. The structural classes of transcription factors: helix-loop-helix (homeogenic), helix-turn-helix (Myc / MAx / Mad), Leucine hinge (Jun. Fos, CREB, NFAT), zinc fingers (receptors for glycocorticoids , estrogen, retinoic acid).
RNA maturation and post-transcriptional control (capping, polyadenylation and termination of mRNA, splicing with mechanisms, mRNA editing, mRNA localization).
Non-coding RNAs: micro-RNAs and mechanisms of gene expression regulation, short-interfering RNAs.
FUNCTIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
METABOLISM OF CARBOHYDRATES. Digestion and absorption. Glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis, hepatic glycogen and muscle glycogen. Hormonal and allosteric regulation of glycogen metabolism. Pathway of pentoses in relation to oxidative stress and to the synthesis of nucleic acids. Metabolism of ethyl alcohol. Gluconeogenesis: sites and mechanisms of regulation of gluconeogenesis.
METABOLISM OF LIPIDS. Digestion, absorption and transport. Endogenous lipid mobilization. Metabolic fate of cholesterol. Catabolism of fatty acids to acyl-CoA in mitochondria and peroxisomes. Ketone bodies: metabolic route of ketogenesis. Biosynthesis from scratch of fatty acids: role of citrate and citrate lyase. Fatty acid-synthetase: biosynthesis of triglycerides. Biosynthesis of cholesterol and regulatory mechanisms. Biosynthesis of phospholipids.
KREBS CYCLE AND OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORILATION. Cellular respiration and electron transport chain.
PROTEIN METABOLISM. Digestion of food proteins. Metabolic fate of amino acids, essential and non-essential amino acids. Gluconeogenic, ketogenic and ketogenic / glucogenic amino acids. Conversion of amino acids into specialized compounds. Use and elimination of the amino group as urea.
METABOLISM OF NUCLEOTIDES. Biosynthesis from scratch and the pathways of purine recovery and their regulation. Biosynthesis of pyrimidines and its regulation. Catabolism of purines to uric acid (hyperuricemia). Pyrimidine catabolism.
METABOLISM OF THE HEM AND MARTIAL. ROS and cytochromes P450
INSULIN AND GLUCAGON: biosynthesis, structure, signal transduction and function.
HYPOTALAMIC-HYPOPHYSARY AXIS and its peripheral targets (structure, regulation by hypothalamic factors, receptor / transduction and function): GH role of IGF-1 and -2, TRH and thyroid hormone, ACTH and medullary adrenal hormones, catecholamines. Cortical adrenal hormones: glucorticoids and mineralocorticoids. General information on gonadotropic hormones. Sex hormones: progesterone, estrogen, androgen. Hormones of the middle pituitary gland: propiocortin-MSH, lipoprotein, beta endorphin. Hormones of the posterior pituitary: vasopressin and oxytocin, neurophysins.
Hormones that regulate the metabolism of calcium and phosphate: parathyroid hormone and calcitriol.
Lipid hormones: prostaglandins, thromboxanes and lipoxins. PAF.
INTEGRATION OF METABOLISM: Integration of metabolic pathways in the main organs and tissues and control of the availability of nutrients. Metabolic effects of insulin, glucagon, adrenaline, and glucocorticoid hormones in different tissues.

Ability to understand metabolism and the flow of genetic information at a molecular level.
Ability to use this knowledge for a critical review of the literature.
Ability to contextualize the physiology (and subsequently the pathology) at the molecular and metabolic level.