Biochemistry
Academic/Subject Sector
Year
Semester
Total number of credits
Integrated Course coordinator
BIO/10-Biochemistry
BIO/11-Molecular Biology
I
1 and 2
17
Prof. M.C. Rosatelli (rosatelli@unica.it)
EVEN STUDENT NUMBERS:
Prof.ssa M. Corda(corda@unica.it),
Dott.ssa A. Coiana(acoiana@pacs.unica.it )
Dott.ssa A. Fais(fais@unica.it)
Integrated Course lecturers
ODD STUDENT NUMBERS:
Prof. A. Rinaldi(rinaldi@unica.it )
Dott. A Rescigno (rescigno@unica.it)
Prof. M.C. Rosatelli (rosatelli@unica.it)
Aims of the course
The aim of the course is to provide students with a knowledge of the molecular and biochemical
mechanisms underlying cell life processes and their metabolic activities. This will be achieved by
studying the structure-function relationships of biomolecules.
Syllabus
BIOCHEMISTRY
The molecular logic of life. The role of water in biological processes
Structure and function of biomolecules: Amino acids, proteins glucids e lipids
Buffer systems of blood
Enzymatic kinetics
Hydrosuluble vitamins and their coenzyme derivates
Liposoluble vitamins and their biological role
Structure and function of biological membranes
Methods of separation and analysis of biological macromolecules
General concepts of metabolism
Thermodynamics applied to metabolic reactions
Digestion, absorption, glucidic metabolism and its regulation.
Oxide reduction reactions in living organisms and energy production
Digestion, absorption and lipid metabolism
Ketogenesis and its metabolic importance
Cholesterol biosynthesis and the transporting of lipoproteins
Regulation of lipid metabolism
Digestion, absorption and general metabolism of amino acids
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Structure and function of nucleic acids
DNA denaturation and renaturation
DNA hybridization, in vitro replication
Cloning vectors, genetic cloning, bacterial cloning, genomic libraries
Restriction enzymes, Southern blotting and molecular probes
Enzymatic amplification of DNA (PCR)
Sanger method of DNA sequencing
Methods of research of puntiform mutations
Transcription and transcription regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes
Genomic imprinting, correlated diseases, molecular diagnosis
Pre-mRNA maturation and regulation of gene expression
One gene, many proteins: alternative splicing, promotor choice, RNA editing, the choice of
translation initiation
Post-transcription regulation of gene expression
The immune system: somatic differentiation and gene expression
From gene to disease: gene mutations, importance of conserved gene sequences, genotype-
phenotype correlation, modifying genes
Translation and post-translation mechanisms of gene expression
RNA interference
DNA polymorphisms: use of minisatellites and microsatellites as polymorphic DNA markers, linkage
analysis, positional cloning, DNA databases
Genomics, proteomics, pharmacogenomics
Reference texts
C.M. Caldarera: Biochimica sistematica umana (Ed. Clueb)
R.H. Garrett, C.M. Grisham: Biochimica (Ed. Zanichelli)
Mathews, Van Holde: Biochimica (Ed. Ambrosiana)
Moran e altri: Biochimica (Ed. McGraw-Hill)
Nelson, Cox: Principi di Biochimica di Lehninger (Ed. Zanichelli)
D.Voet, J.G. Voet: Biochimica (Ed. Zanichelli)
Lewin B.: Gene VIII (Ed. Zanichelli)
Gibson G., Muse SV: Introduzione alla genomica (Ed. Zanichelli)
Dale JW, von Schantz M: Dai Geni ai Genomi (Ed. EdiSES)
Teaching methods
At the end of the first part of the course students will
take an oral or written test (in March, usually)
Assessment methods
Oral test on molecular biology (April or June)
Final oral exam at the end of the course (from June on)
Requirements to take the exam
Teaching language
Italian
Reference addresses
BIOCHEMISTRY Even student numbers
Prof.ssa M. Corda(corda@unica.it), Dipartimento di Scienze applicate ai biosistemi, Sezione di
Biochimica e Biologia molecolare Cittadella universitaria di Monserrato
Dott.ssa A. Fais(fais@unica.it) ), Dipartimento di Scienze applicate ai biosistemi, Sezione di
Biochimica e Biologia molecolare Cittadella universitaria di Monserrato
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Even student numbers
Dott.ssa A. Coiana(acoiana@pacs.unica.it ) Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie,
Via Jenner s/n Cagliari
BIOCHEMISTRY Odd student numbers
Prof. A. Rinaldi (rinaldi@unica.it ) Dipartimento di Scienze mediche Cittadella universitaria di
Monserrato
Dott. A Rescigno (rescigno@unica.it) Dipartimento di Scienze mediche Cittadella universitaria di
Monserrato
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Odd student numbers
Prof. M.C. Rosatelli (rosatelli@unica.it) Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologie, Via
Jenner s/n Cagliari
Further information
Interactive teaching centre:
Polo didattico, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato