The course provides the basics of general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and describes the structures and functions of molecules in living cells. At the end of the course, the student will have to know biological molecules and understand their function in the most complex cells and organisms for each class of molecules. Furthermore, the necessary tools will be provided for the analysis and understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transformations of biological molecules, the integration of metabolic pathways and the adaptation of cellular processes in response to extracellular stimuli. The student will understand the physiological significance of the central metabolic pathways with reference to their pathological role.

Traditional lectures, with the support of slides and audiovisual tools. At the end of the lecture, ample space is given to the comment on the discussed topics.

Basic knowledge of general Chemistry and Physic

• General and inorganic chemistry. Fundamentals of: atom, chemical elements and periodic table, chemical bond and hydrophobic interactions, chemical formulas, solutions, chemical reactions, acids and bases, pH and buffers, redox reactions.
  
• Organic Chemistry: carbon, organic molecules and functional groups (Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, thiols, aldehydes and ketones, hemiacetals, acetals, hemiketals, ketals, carboxylic acids)
  

• Biochemistry: Properties and classification of amino acids, peptide bond, the structure of proteins
• Carbohydrates: classification of mono-, di- and polysaccharides
• Lipids: fatty acids, triglycerides, glycerol phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol
• Nucleotides, nucleosides and nitrogenous bases; structure of nucleic acids

• Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Glycolysis and its regulation, lactic and alcoholic fermentations. The energy yield of glycolysis. Gluconeogenesis. The metabolism of glycogen: glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis.

• Digestion and absorption of proteins, amino acids and lipids.
• Metabolic fate of pyruvate: the Krebs cycle.
• Cellular respiration and oxidative phosphorylation

• Chemistry and Biochemistry - M. Bertoldi - D. Colombo - F. Magni - O. Marin - P. Palestini - Edises Università
  
• Chemistry and Biochemistry for the three-year degrees in the biomedical area - Authors: M. Samaja - R. Paroni - Piccin

For any further information:

• Fundamentals of biochemistry by Lehninger - D.L. Nelson, M. Cox - Zanichelli
  

Skills and abilities will be assessed both in progress and in the final exam.

The final exam will consist of a written test with multiple choice answers and a possible oral interview.

The exam will be used to verify the knowledge of the topics covered in the course and to evaluate the skills acquired. In the overall assessment, the teacher will take into account both the appropriateness and completeness of the contents and the coherence and clarity of the presentation.

Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the conditions require it.

For the attribution of the final grade, the following parameters will be taken into account:

Grade 29-30 with honors: the student has an IN-DEPTH knowledge of the subject, has excellent communication skills and masters the technical-scientific language.

Grade 26-28: the student has a GOOD knowledge of the subject and explains the arguments clearly using an appropriate technical-scientific language;

Grade 22-25: the student has a DISCREET knowledge of the subject, even if limited to the main topics and exposes the topics quite clearly with a fair property of language;

Score 18-21: the student has the MINIMUM knowledge of the subject and exposes the arguments in a sufficiently clear way although the property of language is not very developed;

Failed exam: the student DOES NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE required of the main course contents. The ability to use specific language is very little or no and she is unable to independently apply the acquired knowledge.

Oral exam:

Differences between Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis.

Written test:

The net production of ATP molecules in glycolysis is equivalent to:

a) a molecule

b) two molecules

c) 12 molecules

d) 34 molecules

e) no molecules