C.I. ANATOMO-FISIOLOGIA E BIOCHIMICAModule Biochemistry
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: GABRIELLA LUPOExpected Learning Outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the structure and function of the main biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids) and the fundamental principles of enzymatic catalysis and metabolic regulation.
They should also understand the organization of the main cellular metabolic pathways and their role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, with particular reference to biological processes involved in the physiology of the eye and the visual system.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Students should be able to apply basic biochemical knowledge to interpret the main physiological processes of the human body and understand the molecular basis of biological phenomena relevant to visual function.
They should also be able to relate this knowledge to simple laboratory data of clinical interest and to biological processes involved in the metabolism of ocular tissues.
3. Making judgements
Students should be able to critically interpret basic biochemical information and evaluate its biological significance within the context of physiological and metabolic processes of the human body, with particular reference to cellular mechanisms involved in visual system function.
4. Communication skills
Students should be able to clearly and correctly present the main concepts of general biochemistry using appropriate scientific language, both orally and in writing, and participate in discussions on biological and biomedical topics.
5. Learning skills
Students should develop the ability for independent study and for integrating biochemical knowledge with other biomedical disciplines within the degree program, acquiring the necessary foundations for understanding subsequent courses in biological, physiological and clinical fields, particularly those related to the physiology and pathology of the visual system.
Course Structure
Frontal lessons.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
- PROTEINS
- HEMOGLOBIN AND MIOGLOBIN
- PLASMA PROTEINS
- ENZYMES AND ENZYMATIC CATALYSIS
- THE CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM
- THE LIPID METABOLISM
- THE AMINOACID METABOLISM
- VITAMINS
- MECHANISM OF ACTION OF HORMONES AND METABOLIC INTEGRATIONS
Textbook Information
- Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger – D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox – ZANICHELLI
- Biochimica medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti – PICCIN
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LE PROTEINE. La struttura degli aminoacidi. Il legame peptidico. Organizzazione strutturale delle proteine. collagene, elastina, cheratina. Le immunoglobuline e le lipoproteine plasmatiche. | Testo 1: cap. 4; Testo 2: capp. 3 e 4. |
| 2 | CROMOPROTEINE TRASPORTATRICI DI OSSIGENO. La struttura dell’Eme. Mioglobina ed Emoglobina. Il trasporto dell’ossigeno e del biossido di carbonio. L’effetto Bohr. Il 2,3-bisfosfoglicerato e suo ruolo fisiologico. Funzione tampone dell’emoglobina. Patologie | Testo 1: cap. 5 ; Testo 2: cap. 5. |
| 3 | Le proteine plasmatiche. L’albumina e le sue funzioni principali. Le principali proteine plasmatiche: gamma-globuline (funzione e cenni sulla struttura); le lipoproteine plasmatiche, metabolismo e ruolo fisiologico. Cenni sulla cascata di coagulazione. | Testo 2: cap. 25. |
| 4 | L’energia di attivazione e ruolo degli enzimi nell’abbassamento del suo valore. Lo stato di transizione nelle razioni. Curve di saturazione. Effetto della concentrazione del substrato. La curva e l’equazione di Michaelis-Menten. | Testo 1: cap. 6; Testo 2: cap. 7. |
| 5 | IL METABOLISMO GLUCIDICO: glicolisi, gluconeogenesi, il ciclo di Krebs. Le fermentazioni e LDH. Ciclo di Cori e dell'alanina. Il destino metabolico del piruvato | Testo 1: capp. 7, 12, 14 , 15, 16, 19 (parti curate a lezione); Testo 2: cap. 7, 19 (I) |
| 6 | IL METABOLISMO LIPIDICO. Ossidazione e Sintesi degli acidi grassi e regolazioni reciproche. I corpi chetonici e la loro utilizzazione energetica, in particolare nel miocardio. | Testo 1: capp. 10, 17 , 21 (solo 21.1) ; Testo 2: cap. 2, 12 |
| 7 | IL METABOLISMO DEGLI AMINOACIDI. Digestione e assorbimento degli aminoacidi e dei peptidi. Il catabolismo degli aa: reazioni di transaminazione, deaminazione e decarbossilazione. La Glutammato deidrogenasi. La Glutaminasi renale. Ciclo dell'Urea. | Testo 1: cap. 18 Testo 2: cap. 13 (parti curate a lezione) |
| 8 | LE VITAMINE e le loro implicazioni metaboliche e nella patologia. | Testo 2: cap. 8 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination is written.
The following parameters will be taken into account for the attribution of the final grade:
Score 29-30 cum laude: the student has an IN-DEPTH knowledge of the subject, has excellent communication skills and masters the technical-scientific language.
Score 26-28: the student has a GOOD knowledge of the subject and explains the topics clearly using appropriate technical-scientific language;
Score 22-25: the student has a DISCRETE knowledge of the subject, even if limited to the main topics and explains the topics quite clearly with a reasonable command of language;
Score 18-21: the student has the MINIMUM knowledge of the subject and explains the topics clearly enough although the language skills are poorly developed;
Exam not passed: the student DOES NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE required of the main contents of the course. The ability to use specific language is very poor or non-existent and he is not able to apply the acquired knowledge independently.