General Biochemistry I

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 and exercises in which students are encouraged to apply the competences acquired.

The teaching methodologies will also include group work dedicated to advanced search, critical review and discussion of relevant scientifc papers of expertise.

The intended learning outcomes of the curricular unit of Biochemistry I are the fundamentals of nutritional biochemistry, with emphasis on the following:

 1- The mechanisms of digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients;

2- A holistic understanding of the structural aspects of the biomolecules, macronutrientes and micronutrients, the importance of the structure-function relationship,

3- Comprehension of the influence of diet especially in terms of oxidative stress;

4- Interactions between nutrients-drugs-genes;

5 – The role of nutrients as inflammatory mediators and as enzyme inhibitors;

6- Critical review of scientific literature relevant for research in the field of expertise.

7- In the practical laboratorial programme, the intended learning outcomes are the ability to select the adequate analytical technique in each case and the capacity to execute the experimental technique.

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

– Globally understand the mechanims of digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients;

– Identify the structure of the biomolecules (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and understand the structure-function relationship;

– Recognize the principal biochemical reactions by which diet can influence health and the interactions nutrient-drug-gene;

– Recognize the role of nutrients as potential inflammatory mediators and as enzymatic inhibitors;

– Undertake advanced search in databases of scientific literature and critically review it.  

In the Practical Laboratory Programme the student must be able to:

Follow and execute lab protocols, select the adequate experimental technique and use it.

1. BIOMOLECULES           

1.1 AMINO ACIDS                                                                                                                                     

– Structure-function

1.2 PROTEINS                                                                                                                                           

– Structure-function

– Globin family of proteins (case study)

1.3 ENZYMES                                                                                                                                            

– Mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis; kinetics, regulation and of inhibition

– Nutrients as enzymatic inhibitors

1.4 CARBOHYDRATES                                                                                                                           

– Structure-function

1.5 LIPIDS                                                                                                                                               

– Structure-function

2. VITAMINS AND MINERALS                                                                                                              

– Role in health-disease

– Role as cofactors in enzymatic catalysis

3. HORMONES/Neuromediators                                                                                                      

4. ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS                                                                                                              

– Digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients and hormonal regulation

5. OXIDATIVE STRESS                                                                                                                        

– Role of nutrients/food in oxidative stress (case studies)

Practical programme:

The laboratorial work will be chosen among the following items:

a) Extraction/identification of amino acids; b) Study of the buffering capacity of amino acids; c) Quantification of reducing sugars; d) Extraction/Quantification of lipids; e) Encapsulation of bioactive compounds (vitamins); f) Determination of oxidative stress biomarkers                                                           

NAO

Primary bibliography

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

Bioquímica Médica, Baynes & Dominiczak

Protocolos laboratoriais das aulas práticas./Lab protocols.

Secondary bibliography

Bioquímica Ilustrada de Harper. McGrawHill. Ed. Lange

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

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