ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY

The Advanced Biochemistry course aims to provide the student with an advanced and operational preparation on the structure and function of biological systems, whose bases have been acquired with a first degree. The course also introduces the structure and function of macromolecules and intends to prepare the students to understand the molecular basis of biological systems and biochemical mechanisms regulating cellular metabolic activities.

Water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Biosynthesis, transport and excretion of cholesterol - plasma lipoproteins: composition and function. Post-translational modifications: glycosylation. Glycoproteins and proteoglycans. Protein kinases in intracellular signaling: Classification and molecular organization of PKA, PKG, PKC. Tyrosine kinases. Cyclin-dependent protein kinase. Intracellular metabolism of proteins for degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome and the lysosomal route. The urea cycle: localization and regulation reactions. Metabolic regulation and signal transduction. Free radicals: complete reduction of oxygen and partially reduced forms. Formation of free radicals in the mitochondria and erythrocytes. Dismutation reactions, Haber Weiss reaction and Fenton reaction. Lipoperoxidation. Enzymatic defense systems. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. The hierarchy of the primary structure and brief information for its determination. Structural and functional protein domains. Supersecondary structures. Prediction of secondary structures. Protein folding: thermodynamic, proposed mechanisms, spontaneous and driven folding. Chaperonins: classification and function in the driven folding. Structure and mechanism of action of Gro-El and Gro-Es. Catalytic mechanisms of selected enzymes.

Biochimica - Berg J., Tymoczko J., and Stryer L. Zanichelli

Biochimica medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti – PICCIN