General Biochemistry

Cell biology and organic chemistry (elementary)

The theoretical contents of the curricular unit will be presented through lectures, illustrated whenever possible with practical case-studies dedicated to metabolism in Biochemistry (PBL-Problem-based learning) and exercises regarding biomarkers, in which students are encouraged to apply the competences acquired.

The teaching methodologies will also include advanced research, critical review and discussion of relevant scientifc papers in the field of expertise.

The intended learning outcomes of the curricular unit of Biochemistry are the following:

1 – A holistic understanding of the structural and functional aspects of the biomolecules of the cell, the basic unit of an organism;

2 – Recognition of the importance of the structure-function relationship;

3 – Comprehension of the main biochemical reactions in living organisms;

4 – Understanding the main metabolic routes, the bioenergetics of the cell, its integration and regulation;

5 – Critical review of scientific literature relevant for research in the field of expertise.

At the end of this curricular unit, students should be able to:

– Globally understand the cell functionning and thus the organism at the biochemical level;

– Identify the structure of the biomolecules and unsderstand the relationship structure-function;

– Understand the principles of bioenergetics and of cellular metabolism, and how its regulation is achieved, and, the relation with either anaerobic or aerobic exercise;

– Undertake advanced search in databases of scientific literature and critically review it to identify biomarkers of muscle injury

T – Theoretical syllabus

BIOMOLECULES           

1. AMINOACIDS                                                                                                                                     

1.1 Structure-function

1.2 Importance as biological buffer systems

2. PROTEINS                                                                                                                                             

2.1 Structure-function

2.2 Globin family of proteins (case study)

3. ENZYMES                                                                                                                                         

3.1 Catalysis; Kinetics; Regulation of enzymatic activity; Enzymatic inhibition

3.2 Case studies of isoenzymes as biomarkers of muscle damage or injury

4 – CARBOHYDRATES                                                                                                                          

4.1 Structure-function

5 – LIPIDS                                                                                                                                                

5.1 Structure-function

6 – BIOENERGETICS AND CELLULAR METABOLISM

6.1 AMINOACID METABOLISM/REGULATION                                                                                

6.2 GLUCID METABOLISM/REGULATION                                                                                         

6.3 LIPID METABOLISM/REGULATION                                                                                        

6.4 METABOLISM OVERVIEW/INTEGRATION/ADAPTATION                                                           

 7. Biomarkers in metabolism

– Exercises and discussion of short  case studies in metabolic biochemistry to enable students to apply theoretical knowledge;

– Study of inborn errors of metabolism and of biomarkers for the diagnosis or for the monitoring of treatment.

NAO

Primary bibliography

Quintas A, Freire AP, Halpern MJ. Organização Molecular da Vida, ed. Lidel.

Lehninger-Principles of Biochemistry, International Edition, Nelson DL & Cox MM, MacMillan ed, WH Freeman and Company, NY, USA

Secondary bibliography

Bioquímica Ilustrada de Harper. McGrawHill. Ed. Lange

Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L. Bioquímica. Guanabara koogan