The objectives of the course are:
Knowledge and understanding:
1) The acquisition of knowledge of the main biomolecules that make up living organisms, the functioning of proteins, enzymes, the functions of carbohydrates and lipids at the basis of biological processes. To understand the close relationship that exists between biological structure and function and the biochemical basis of pathologies caused by the functional alteration of biomolecules

2) Understanding the organization and the knowledge of the main metabolic pathways of intermediate metabolism, the chemical transformations that allow the human body to obtain energy from nutrients, to conserve energy as ATP aimed to transform the same biomolecules into body constituents.

3) The knowledge and understanding of the main control systems of intermediate metabolism, of the relationships and integrations between the metabolic pathways and between the different tissues / organs and of the metabolism alterations that are at the basis of several pathologies.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student will acquire the capability to understand, even at the molecular level, different biological, physiological and even pathological processes that will be the subject of subsequent courses. The student will be able to use the knowledge on metabolism to understand processes in which it is important to consider the energy balance. The student will be able to fully understand the pathologies that have a biochemical basis.

Autonomy of judgment: Autonomy of judgment is developed through answers sent in real-time via smartphone (app. wooclap) to questions generated by the wooclap e-learning platform. In addition, through preparation for the exam, which requires individual re-elaboration and assimilation of the material presented in the classroom.

Communication skills: The written test includes open questions in which the student must demonstrate the ability to rework the knowledge learned. Opportunity to participate in the discussion with the teacher in the classroom. Opportunity to share students' questions and teacher's answers on the Moodle forum.

Exam of Chemistry and preparatory biochemistry is mandatory to take exam of biochemistry. (Mandatory for the students in Medicine and Surgery)

Introduction: biomolecules, structural complementarity and molecular recognition.
Proteins: the structure and biological properties and functions of proteins with examples.
Enzymes: specificity and enzyme kinetics. Cofactors and vitamins. Enzyme inhibition and regulation.
Biological functions of carbohydrates: simple, complex, and their derivatives.
Biological functions of lipids: storage lipids, membrane lipids, and lipids as hormone precursors.
Biological functions of nucleotides as enzyme cofactors, chemical energy carriers, and signaling molecules.
Metabolism: general concepts
Carbohydrate main catabolic pathways and their regulation, including hormonal regulation.
Glycogen metabolism: glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis and their regulation.
The citric acid (Krebs) cycle: cycle steps and regulation.
The catabolism of fatty acids: lipolysis and lipogenesis. Beta-oxidation and its regulation. The ketone bodies.
Catabolism of proteins and amino acids: urea cycle and nitrogen excretion.
Oxidative phosphorylation: the respiratory chain; ATP synthase and respiratory control.
Biosynthesis of lipids: cholesterol and essential fatty acids.
Biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids; de novo synthesis of nucleotides and base recovery pathway.
Main metabolic interrelationships between organs, hormonal action and Metabolism integration. Metabolic diseases.

Nelson & Cox: Fondamenti di biochimica di Lehninger. All chapters with exclusion of: 9, 11, 12, 23. I Italian edition, Zanichelli ed.
As an alternative, using the corresponding chapters of Fondamenti:
“I Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger” - Zanichelli ed. - VII or VIII edition.
“Biochimica” Berg - Tymoczko - Stryer: Biochimica - Zanichelli ed. – VI or VII or VIII edition.

Introduction: biomolecules. Weak bonds, structural complementarity and molecular recognition.
Peptide bond, peptides and proteins: structure, biological properties and functions. Structural levels of proteins. Fibrous, globular, membrane and intrinsically disordered proteins. Hemoglobin: a protein in action: Transport of oxygen and CO2, allosteric regulation, pathological hemoglobins.
Enzymes; specificity, kinetics, equation of Michaelis-Menten. Cofactors and coenzymes. Water-soluble vitamins. Reversible and irreversible enzyme inhibition, drugs as enzyme inhibitors. Enzymatic regulation: allosteric regulation, covalent modification, activation by proteolysis.
Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Complex carbohydrates: glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans and glycoproteins.
Lipids: fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol. Reserve lipids, membrane lipids, lipids as hormone precursors.
Nucleotides such as enzymatic cofactors, chemical energy transporters (ATP) and signal molecules (cAMP).
Metabolism: general concepts of bioenergetics, catabolism and anabolism. Transfer of phosphoric groups and ATP and other phosphorylated compounds. Redox reactions using NADH and FADH2.
Carbohydrate catabolism: digestion of carbohydrates; glycolysis; gluconeogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. Principles of metabolic regulation: activity of insulin, glucagon and adrenaline. GLUT transporters.
Glycogen metabolism: degradation and synthesis of glycogen; allosteric and hormonal regulation; role of glycogen in the liver and muscle.
Citric acid cycle (Krebs): pyruvate dehydrogenase and production of Acetyl-Coa; reactions of the citric acid cycle and cycle regulation. Biosynthetic roles of the cycle, anaplerotic reactions, regulation of the cycle.
Catabolism of fatty acids: digestion of lipids, mobilization of triacylglycerols and transport of fatty acids. Bile salts and pancreatic lipases and hormone-sensitive lipases; role of glucagon, adrenaline and insulin in lipolysis and lipogenesis. Beta-oxidation of fatty acids, oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, extra mitochondrial oxidations. Regulation of beta oxidation. Coenzyme B12 and pernicious anemia. The peroxisomes. The ketone bodies.
Catabolism of proteins and amino acids: digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids; transport of ammonium ion: transaminations and pyridoxal phosphate; nitrogen excretion and urea cycle; fate of the carbon backbone of amino acids.
Oxidative phosphorylation: structure and function of the respiratory chain complexes; structure and mechanism of the ATP synthase complex; shuttle systems; respiratory control, respiratory inhibitors and uncouplers.
Biosynthesis of lipids: biosynthesis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols; transport of lipids via VLDL; LDL and cholesterol transport; essential fatty acids. Synthesis of cholesterol and steroid hormones.
Biosynthesis of essential and non-essential amino acids; biosynthetic families of amino acids; synthesis of non-essential amino acids; metabolism of mono-carbon units: folate and SAM and regulatory aspects. Biosynthesis and catabolism of heme, jaundice and metabolism of the iron ion.
Nucleotide metabolism: de novo synthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, base recovery pathway, deoxyribonucleotide synthesis, nucleotide catabolism.
Hormones and integration of metabolism in mammals and main metabolic interrelations between organs, tissue specificity, hormonal regulation of energy metabolism. Diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Lectures with the help of PowerPoint presentations uploaded on the Moodle platform before the lecture . Interactive and real time questioning using Wooclap facility . Class discussion with students about the treated topics. Questions/answers forum on Moodle platform.

Detailed data are available on the Moodle website of the course. 1084ME-1 BIOCHIMICA

The verification methods will consist of a written test in presence delivered on Moodle, divided into two parts:
Part I: Test with 50 questions, both multiple- choice and true/false, on the entire program, passed by correctly answering ¾ of the questions. Duration: 60 minutes
Part II: Test with open questions, accessible after passing the first test, consisting of answering one questions on a selection of 3 questions on specific topics. Duration: 40 minutes.
The score is 30/30 points and is obtained by adding the points of the first part (max. 20/30) with those of the second part (max. 10/30).
Honors (30 e lode) are awarded by demonstrating, in the second part, a level of understanding of the subject that exceeds what can be directly obtained from the information provided in the lectures.
For those who must take the integrated exam, which also includes the module in Applied Technical and Dietetic Sciences (1084ME-2), the exam is unified. The integrated exam follows the same procedures as described, with the only exception being the first part of the test, which consists of 60 questions, including 12 questions related to Module 2.

This teaching examines in depth topics closely related to one or more objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations"