37201 - Metabolic Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows: the essential elements of the intermediate metabolism of the main biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogenous compounds), the energy modifications associated with them, their relationships and metabolic and hormonal regulations, as well as the localization and cellular compartmentalization of main metabolic pathways; the specialization of the various human organs and tissues in metabolic activities as a prerequisite for the knowledge of their specific functions; the molecular mechanisms of regulation of cellular activity with particular regard to cellular signal transduction and the function of hormones, other extracellular messengers and vitamins at the metabolic and genic level; the biochemical principles that are the basis of human nutrition with particular regard to the molecular mechanisms of digestion and absorption of nutrients and essential nutritional principles with references to nutrigenomics.

Course contents

The course is integrated and the teaching is divided into topics, with the syllabus organized as follows:

Generalities on metabolism. Metabolic pathways, their regulation and compartmentalization; catabolism and anabolism.

Carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis; gluconeogenesis; glycogen metabolism (glycogenolysis and glycogen synthesis); pentose phosphate pathway; Krebs cycle; oxidative phosphorylation.

Lipid metabolism. Catabolism of fatty acids; ketone bodies; lipid biosynthesis (fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol); lipid transport, the role of lipoproteins.

Nitrogen metabolism. Biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids; urea cycle; synthesis, recovery, and degradation of purines; synthesis and degradation of pyrimidines; synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides.

Membrane permeability and transport. Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of solute transport. Channel proteins and facilitated diffusion of solutes. Primary and secondary active transport.

Hormone biochemistry. Synthesis, secretion, plasma transport, and mechanism of action of polypeptide hormones, amino acid-derived hormones, and steroid hormones. Molecular and metabolic effects of hormones that regulate tissue metabolism. Hormone receptors and their regulation.

Signal transduction. G protein-coupled receptors (cyclic AMP pathway, Diacylglycerol pathway, Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and Ca2+ as intracellular messengers), mechanisms of signal transduction pathway shutdown; receptors with intrinsic enzymatic activity (insulin and growth factor receptors), Ras protein and MAP kinase and PI3K pathways; channel receptors; nuclear receptors and hormone response elements.

Metabolic integration. Energy requirements of major organs, metabolic correlations between organs: in a well-fed state, during fasting, during physical activity, pregnancy.

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals in nutrition. Nutritional function of macronutrients (carbohydrates: glycemic index and glycemic load of foods, dietary fiber; lipids: essential fatty acids, w-6 and w-3 families; proteins: essential amino acids, biological value, protein complementarity) and micronutrients (fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, calcium homeostasis) digestion and absorption, nutrient requirements and guidelines, diseases related to deficiencies or malnutrition.

Nutritional and energy requirements. Nutritional status and its indicators. Body mass index and its correlations. Body composition and its changes. Energy expenditure: basal and total metabolism. Nutritional regulation of metabolism. Gastrointestinal and adipose tissue signals in the control of energy balance.

Readings/Bibliography

D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox "I principi di Biochimica di Lehninger". VIII ed., Zanichelli

T.M. Devlin, "Biochimica con aspetti clinici" V ed., Edises

A. Di Giulio, A. Lorenzini, M. Malaguti “Alimentazione per lo sport e il benessere. Principi di nutrizione” CEA casa editrice ambrosiana

C. Pignatti, Biochimica della nutrizione, Esculapio, Data di Pubblicazione: marzo 2022, ISBN: 8893852853

Teaching methods

Lectures based on Power-Point presentations

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written exam with open-ended or multiple-choice questions.

Before taking the Metabolic Biochemistry exam, the student must take and pass the General Chemistry and Biochemistry exam.

The marks obtained in the Chemistry, Metabolic Biochemistry and Molecular Biology modules contribute to the definition of the I.C. mark. of Biochemistry, which will correspond to the weighted average on the basis of the credits of the respective modules of the C.I.

If a student decides to take the exam again, regardless of the associated result, the result obtained in the previous exam will be automatically cancelled. The exam can be repeated in any exam session.

The validity of a positive exam will be 1 year from the date of the exam; after this term, the result achieved and not confirmed will lapse.

Teaching tools

Teaching is represented by lectures and studies of scientific publications.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Zanna