Programme

Water and its properties
Weak interactions in aqueous solutions
The hydrogen bond
Dissociation equilibria, weak acids and bases
Amino acids, peptides and proteins
Proteins' primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure
Supramolecular structures
Protein folding and unfolding

Core Documentation

Nelson, Cox - I principi di Biochimica del Lehninger. Zanichelli 2018

Garrett, Grisham –Biochimica, Piccin, 2014

Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer – Biochimica, Zanichelli, 2012

McKee e McKee – Biochimica, McGraw Hill, 2006

Type of delivery of the course

The Biochemistry course is a theoretical course held in the second semester and organized into 6 hours per week with the use of digital media.

Attendance

Attendance is optional but highly recommended as it facilitates the achievement of positive results in the finale exam.

Type of evaluation

For this module of the course there will be a written evaluation at the end of the module. The final grade will derive from the average of the marks obtained in the three written evaluations of the course. In the event that the student has not carried out one or two written tests or wishes to increase the grade obtained, he/she can take the oral exam in relation to the parts of the program covered by the missed tests, on the established dates. The student who does not intend to take the written tests during the semester, can directly take the oral exam on the established dates. The final grade will evaluate the following parameters: a) Appropriateness, correctness and congruity of acquired knowledge and skills; b) Appropriate use of the specific language of the discipline; c) Expressive capacity; d) Logical skills; e) Synthesis skills; f) Ability to link different topics. Consequently, the final grade can be: a) Sufficient (from 18 to 20/30) b) Fair (from 21 to 23) c) Good (from 24 to 26) d) Optimum (from 27 to 29) e) Excellent (30) The "laude" is attributed to candidates clearly above the average, and whose eventual notional, expressive, conceptual and logical limits are altogether irrelevant.

Programme

The practice module of the course of Biochemistry includes three laboratory experiences, each lasting 2 hours. The topics of the experiences are:
1. Separation of blood in its cellular and plasma component. Fractionation of blood proteins by saline and ethanol precipitation.
2. Quantification of plasma proteins by the Bradford method. Preparation of samples to be loaded on SDS-PAGE. Loading on polyacrylamide gel of fractionated proteins.
3. Characterization of the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase.

Core Documentation

MCKEE, BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW - HILL. ALTRI TESTI: NELSON, COX, I PRINCIPI DI BIOCHIMICA DI LEHININGER, ZANICHELLI VOET, VOET, PRATT, FONDAMENTI DI BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI STRYER, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI RAWN, BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW-HILLMORAN ET AL., BIOCHIMICA, MCGRAW-HILL GARRET, GRISHAM, BIOCHIMICA, ZANICHELLI


RECEPTION TIME: Monday 10 am

Type of delivery of the course

The practice module of the Biochemistry course includes three laboratory experiences, each lasting 2 hours. The topics of the experiences are: 1. Separation of blood in its cellular and plasma component. Fractionation of blood proteins by saline and ethanol precipitation. 2. Quantification of plasma proteins by the Bradford method. Preparation of samples to be loaded on SDS-PAGE. Loading on polyacrylamide gel of fractionated proteins. 3. Characterization of the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase. The experimental data obtained during the practical experiences must be analyzed by the students using appropriate software (Excel). The results obtained will be discussed together with the teacher during a classroom lecture.

Type of evaluation

Participation at the three laboratory experiences is mandatory in order to pass the exam of Biochemistry. Therefore, the module I of the Biochemistry Course does not require a specific evaluation, but the active participation of the student in the activities carried out. In fact, the student is required to analyze the experimental data obtained in the three experiences through the use of appropriate software (Excel). The results obtained will then be analyzed and discussed together with the teacher during a classroom lecture.