Ateneo - UPO

Metabolic Biochemistry: principles of bioenergetics and cellular energy production; Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation; carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism; hormone metabolism and function; integration and regulation of major metabolic pathways.

Title: Chemistry and Biochemistry for Bachelor's Degree Programs (Health Sciences)
Authors: Samaja, Paroni
Publisher: Piccin
Title: Elements of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Authors: Roberti, Alunni Bistocchi
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
For further reading:
Title: Biochemistry
Author: Ferrier
Publisher: Zanichelli

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
-describe the main metabolic pathways and understand their regulation;
-explain how the body obtains energy from nutrients, how this energy is stored and used under different physiological conditions, particularly in the fed and fasting states;
-understand the main mechanisms by which the body utilizes and eliminates non-energy-yielding end products of catabolism.

Students are expected to have basic knowledge in the following areas:
General Chemistry: chemical bonds; equilibrium and complete reactions; oxidation–reduction reactions; acids, bases, buffer systems, and equilibria in aqueous solutions.
Organic Chemistry: main functional groups; alkenes, alcohols, thiols, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives; main chemical and physical properties of organic compounds; stereochemistry.
Physics: fundamental principles of thermodynamics, with particular emphasis on Gibbs free energy.
Biology: structure and organization of the eukaryotic cell.
Anatomy: basic knowledge of the organization and structure of the human body.

The course is delivered through face-to-face lectures and, where applicable, online lectures, supported by teaching materials made available through the University's online learning platform.

PDF copies of the lecture slides, supplementary learning materials, and all information concerning the course and examination procedures will be made available on the DIR platform (https://www.dir.uniupo.it/).
Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and support tools dedicated to them by contacting the University’s Student Careers Development and Coordination Staff and Student Services Office, and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilit%C3%A0-e-dsa.
Students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN, once they have contacted the University’s relevant staff, may contact the course instructor regarding the arrangements for examination procedures and any aspects related to teaching and learning activities.

The exam will consist of a written test with multiple choice questions, test tests will be available on DIR

Principles of Bioenergetics
Spontaneity of biochemical reactions: Gibbs free energy. Coupled reactions. ATP as the main cellular energy exchange molecule.
Metabolism
Definition of metabolism, catabolism, and anabolism. Role of redox nucleotides NAD⁺ and FAD.
Krebs Cycle
Sources of acetyl-CoA from pyruvate, fatty acids, and amino acids. Production of CO₂, NADH, and FADH₂.
ATP Synthesis
Substrate-level phosphorylation. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation according to the chemiosmotic model. Catalytic mechanism of ATP synthase. Role of thermogenin.
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis: hormonal and allosteric regulation. Metabolic fates of pyruvate. Metabolism of other hexoses. Pentose phosphate pathway: production of NADPH and ribose. Glycogen synthesis and degradation: differences between liver and muscle. Gluconeogenesis: precursors, energy balance compared with glycolysis, hormonal and allosteric regulation.
Lipid Metabolism
β-oxidation of fatty acids: acyl-CoA formation, mitochondrial transport through carnitine, oxidation of palmitate and production of acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH₂. Fatty acid synthesis: malonyl-CoA formation by acetyl-CoA carboxylase, hormonal and allosteric regulation, and relationship with β-oxidation. Ketone body synthesis and utilization. Mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissue.
Amino Acid Metabolism
Transamination reactions, role of alanine and glutamine in blood transport of amino groups, oxidative deamination. Fate of carbon skeletons in the Krebs cycle. Removal of amino groups through the urea cycle. Amino acids as biosynthetic precursors.
Nucleotide Metabolism
De novo synthesis and salvage pathways. Purine degradation to uric acid.
Heme Metabolism
Heme synthesis and porphyrias. Heme degradation: formation of bilirubin, urobilin, and stercobilin.
Metabolic Integration and Hormonal Regulation
Role of glucagon, adrenaline, and insulin in metabolic regulation. Integration of metabolism among liver, adipose tissue, muscle, and brain in the fed and fasting states. Role of carnitine in muscle metabolism. Cori cycle and glucose-alanine cycle.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
-describe the main metabolic pathways and the mechanisms regulating their activity;
-explain how the body obtains energy from nutrients, how energy is stored as ATP, and how it is utilized under different physiological conditions, particularly in the fed and fasting states;
-understand metabolic integration among different organs and tissues and the role of hormonal regulation;
-describe the main mechanisms by which the body eliminates non-energy-yielding end products of catabolism.