BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES APPLIED TO AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 3Module BIOCHIMICA GENERALE
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: GABRIELLA LUPOExpected Learning Outcomes
The Biochemistry course within the Biotechnology curriculum provides students with a solid foundation for understanding the chemical processes that occur within living organisms, with a particular focus on biotechnological applications.
By the end of the module, students will have acquired general knowledge of the molecular basis of life, the fundamental chemical properties of substances, the structure and function of macromolecules involved in vital processes, and the metabolic transformations of biomolecules essential for the functioning of the human body.
Furthermore, students will understand the significance of changes in major metabolic pathways in various physiological and pathological contexts.
Course Structure
Lectures. Should the course be delivered in a blended or remote format, necessary adjustments may be made with respect to what was previously stated, in order to ensure compliance with the syllabus and the planned course content.
Required Prerequisites
To successfully follow a Biochemistry course within the context of Biotechnology, it is advisable to have a solid background in general and organic chemistry.
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is mandatory for all lectures and practical sessions. Students are required to attend regularly in order to successfully complete the course.
Detailed Course Content
Carbohydrates – Review of structure and function, monosaccharides, disaccharides. Homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides. Glycoconjugates (proteoglycans, glycoproteins, glycolipids). Lipids – Review of structure and function. Storage lipids. Structural lipids. Sterols. Lipoproteins. Nitrogenous compounds: purine and pyrimidine bases and derived compounds. Amino acids – Review of structure and function, titration. Peptide bond and its characteristics. Proteins – Structure and function of proteins. Primary structure. Secondary structures: alpha-helix, beta-sheet. The Ramachandran diagram. Tertiary structure. Quaternary structure. Fibrous proteins. Globular proteins – Haemoproteins involved in the transport of gases (O2, CO2): myoglobin and haemoglobin: structures, function and regulation, degradation and disposal of haem. Haemoproteins involved in redox reactions. Cytochromes. - Biochemical catalysis. – Chemical catalysts and biological catalysts. Enzymes: classification. Coenzymes and vitamins. Michaelis-Menten equation. Km, Vmax, turnover number, Kcat/Km. The double reciprocal graph. Effect of pH and temperature on enzymatic activity. Irreversible inhibition. Reversible inhibition: competitive, non-competitive, incompetitive and mixed. Effect of different types of inhibitors on the double reciprocal graph. Multienzyme complexes. Allosteric regulation of enzymatic activity. Introduction to metabolism: general organization – Concept of metabolic pathways and maps. Degradative pathways (catabolism) and biosynthetic pathways (anabolism). Shuttle systems: metabolic functions and roles. Bioenergetics. Molecules of energy importance, production and use of biochemical energy in the cell. Biochemical roles of NADH and NADPH. General mechanisms of regulation of metabolism - hormonal control, feedback regulation, allosteric enzymes, zymogens, isoenzymes, cascade amplification, compartmentalization, gene regulation. Biochemical reactions of glycolysis - Regulation of glycolysis and regulatory steps. Oxidation of pyruvic acid: the multienzyme complex of pyruvic dehydrogenase and its reaction mechanism. Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis. Reactions of the citric acid cycle and regulation of the cycle. Degradation of glycogen. Reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway - Oxidative phosphorylation - The mitochondrion as the powerhouse of the cell. Redox potential scales of molecules of biological importance. Machinery for electron transport: structure and functions of mitochondrial complexes. Electrochemical potentials in electron transport and role of oxygen. Reactions of beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Activation and transport in the mitochondrion: acyl-CoA synthetase, carnitine and the acylcarnitine-carnitine transporter. Control and energy yield. Cholesterol metabolism. Ketogenesis. Amino acid metabolism and fate of nitrogenous compounds: ammonia activation, transamination, oxidative deamination, urea cycle. Degradation and recovery of nucleotides. Biosynthetic pathways: glucose and glycogen biosynthesis. Notes on chromatographic separations and spectrophotometry
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination is written. Assessment may also be carried out remotely, should conditions make it necessary.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1. Describe the structure and functions of carbohydrates. What are the main types of carbohydrates and how are they classified?
2. Explain the structure and functions of lipids. What are the main types of lipids and how are they classified?
3. Describe the structure and functions of proteins. What are the different levels of protein structure and how do they influence their function?
4. What are enzymes and how do they catalyze chemical reactions? Explain the mechanism of enzyme action (e.g., lock-and-key model).
5. Explain the role of the liver in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
2. Explain the structure and functions of lipids. What are the main types of lipids and how are they classified?
3. Describe the structure and functions of proteins. What are the different levels of protein structure and how do they influence their function?
4. What are enzymes and how do they catalyze chemical reactions? Explain the mechanism of enzyme action (e.g., lock-and-key model).
5. Explain the role of the liver in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.