12208 - Chemistry and Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be aware of the basis of Biochemistry.

Course contents

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Concept of general chemistry

Definition of solution. Self-ionization of water. Hydrogen binding. Solubility. Osmotic pressure. pH. Strength of acids and bases. Dissociation equilibrium of acids and bases. K_a and K_., Buffer solution. Poorly soluble salts. Dental enamel apatite.

Crystal structure of the oral cavity

Function of the oral cavity. Hard tissues in the oral cavity. Mineralization process. Hydroxy apatite and biological apatite. Fluoride. Fluorohydroxyapatite. Fluoroapatite. Ionic solubility product of calcium and phosphate salts. Tooth stones. Dental erosion.

Carbohydrates

Mono- saccharide. Glycosidic binding. Disaccharide. Polysaccharide. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Proteoglycans. Starch. Glycogen. Cellulose. Natural and synthetic sweeteners.

Nucleotides and nucleic acids

Nucleobases. Pentoses. Phosphodiester bond. Structure of nucleic acids. Nucleotides with energetic and regulative functions. Adenosine containing cofactors.

Amino acids and proteins

Amino acid structure. Peptide bond. The four structural levels of proteins. Structural motifs. Alfa keratin and collagen. Domains. Protein conjugates. Non enzymatic saliva protein.

Lipids

Saturated, unsaturated, and essential fatty acids. Triglycerides. Structural lipids. Phospholipids. Glycolipids. Signal lipids. Cholesterol. Prostaglandin. Leukotriene. Liposoluble vitamin.

Dental biofilm

Enamel film. Bacterial wall. Peptidoglycan. Theicoic acids. Lipo-poly- saccharide. pH fluctuations and dental plaque metabolism. Bacterial role in calcification process.

Enzymology

Enzymes. Apoenzymes, cofactors, and coenzymes. Enzyme-substrate complex. Activation energy. Enzyme kinetics. Michaelis-Menten equation. Regulation of enzymatic activity. Allosterism. Isoenzymes. Proteins and enzymes of the saliva.

Glucose metabolism

Aerobic and anerobic glycolysis. Energetic yield of glycolysis. Regulation of glycolysis. Glycogen. Bacterial fermentation. Introduction to hormonal modulation glucose metabolism enzymes. Effects of fluoride on dental plaque metabolism.

Oxidative phosphorylation and Krebs cycle

Pyruvate oxidation. Krebs cycle reactions. Respiratory chain and electron flow. ATP synthase and synthesis of ATP.

Hormones

Autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signaling. Classification and structure. Introduction to cellular receptors and hormonal regulation of energetic metabolism.

Vitamins

Role of hydrophilic and lipophilic vitamins in metabolic processes. Important vitamins for the health of oral cavity and nutrition

Readings/Bibliography

Stefani e Taddei, Chimica e Biochimica, Ed. Zanichelli

Nelson e Cox, Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger, Ed. Zanichelli

Ferguson, Biologia del cavo orale, Ed. Ambrosiana

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

Written examination.

Teaching tools

Supplemental material is provided during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Valentina Giorgio