Biochemistry I

Bioquímica I

Curse code:9494122

Alexandre Luís De Matos Botica Côrtes Quintas

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:

The main purpose of the Biochemistry course is to provide to the students the fundamental knowledge of the structure and the function of the biological molecules and the metabolic flux of these molecules in the living beings. Due to the nature of this degree, an introduction to Xenobiochemistry it is part of the course. In addition the practical nature of the Biochemistry course demands strong practical laboratorial skills. In the practical classes of this course the students develops strong laboratorial skills. Along with that it’s intended that the students developed critical scientific thinking reading scientific articles.

Syllabus:

1. FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY:
   The logic of life
   Biomolecules
   The water
2. STRUCTURE AND CATALYSIS:
   Amino acids and peptides
   Introduction to proteins
   The 3D structure of proteins
   Structure/function relationship in proteins
   Evolution of structure, function and protein folding
   Enzymes, mechanisms enzymatic catalysis, and allosteric inhibition
   Structure-function of carbohydrates
   Nucleotides and nucleic acids
   Lipids and biological membranes
3. BIOENERGETICS AND METABOLISM:
   Bioenergetics and Oxidative metabolism
   Glycolysis and hexoses catabolism of pentose phosphates pathway
   The citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation
   Fatty acid oxidation, amino acids oxidation, nitrogen bases and urea cycle
   Biosynthesis: Carbohydrates biosynthesis; Lipids biosynthesis; Amino acids and nitrogenous bases biosynthesis
   Metabolism integration: Control and regulation of metabolism
   Introduction to xenobiochemistry

Suggested Bibliography:

• Burgess RR. (2009) Important but little known (or forgotten) artifacts in protein biochemistry. Methods Enzymol. 2009;463:813-20. Review. PubMed PMID: 19892204.
• Burgess RR. Use of bioinformatics in planning a protein purification. Methods Enzymol. 2009;463:21-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 19892163.
• Verde C, Vergara A, Mazzarella L, di Prisco G. The hemoglobins of fishes living at polar latitudes - current knowledge on structural adaptations in a changing environment. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2008 Dec;9(6):578-90. Review. PubMed PMID: 19075748.
• Feig AL. Applications of isothermal titration calorimetry in RNA biochemistry and biophysics. Biopolymers. 2007 Dec 5-15;87(5-6):293-301. Review. PubMed PMID: 17671974; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2465469.
• Elofsson A, von Heijne G. Membrane protein structure: prediction versus reality. Annu Rev Biochem. 2007;76:125-40. Review. PubMed PMID: 17579561.