Biochemistry
Code: 100999 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500502 Microbiology | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Carlos Barcia Gonzalez
- Email:
- carlos.barcia@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Teachers
- Maria del Mar Marquès Bueno
Prerequisites
There are not mandatory requirements.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Biochemistry subject is divided in two sections, the first is dedicated to structural and functional properties of biomolecules from a general perspective, emphazaising enzymes and proteins. In the second part, metabolism pathways and the bases of biosignaling and bioenergetic are studied. The objective is to provide the molecular and metabolic bases needed for the correct understanding of other subjects of the Microbiology bachelor.
The especifics objectives are:
- Understand the general structural bases of biological molecules.
- Understand the kinetics and enzimatic action in the biological context and their regulation.
- Know the main molecular mechanism of signaling transduction.
- Describe the main metabolic pathways of carbohidrates, lipids and nitrogen compounds and their regulation.
- Apply knowledge in quantitave and qualitative exercises.
Competences
- Communicate orally and in writing.
- Develop critical reasoning skills in the field of study and in relation to the social context.
- Identify and solve problems.
- Interpret, on a molecular scale, microbial mechanisms and processes.
- Recognise the different levels of organization of living beings, especially animals and plants, diversity and bases of regulation of vital functions of organisms and identify mechanisms of adaptation to the environment.
- Work individually or in groups, in multidisciplinary teams and in an international context.
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire a sound knowledge of the principal metabolic pathways.
- Communicate orally and in writing.
- Develop critical reasoning skills in the field of study and in relation to the social context.
- Identify and solve problems.
- Identify the mechanisms that regulate the vital functions of living beings.
- Know the basic biological functions of biomolecules.
- Know the molecular bases of the organisation of living beings.
- Master the concepts of enzyme catalysis and bioenergetics.
- Recognise the chemical structure and the physical and chemical properties of biomolecules.
- Solve problems on physical and chemical properties and functions of biomolecules.
- Work individually or in groups, in multidisciplinary teams and in an international context.
Content
THEORETICAL CONCEPTS
BASIC CONCEPTS
Chapter 1. Essential concepts.
Biochemistry: definition and objectives. Chemistry elements of living beings. Type of biomolecule bonds. Free energy or Gibbs energy. The importance of weak interactions in biology. Water structure and properties. pH and pKa concepts.
BIOMOLECULES: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Chapter 2. Amino acids and peptide bond.
Type of protein and function. Amino acids classification and properties. Peptide bond. Amino acid sequence and protein composition: primary and secondary structure. Sequence comparison and protein evolution.
Chapter 3. Proteins.
Level of protein structure. Secondary structure: Alpha helix, beta strands, beta turn. Tertiary structure: fiber and globular proteins. Quaternary structure. Protein folding and determinant factors. Conformational diseases.
Chapter 4. Carbohydrates.
Monosaccharide: aldose, ketose and isomers. Glycosidic bond. Disaccharide and polysaccharides. Glycoconjugate: proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. Carbohydrate as Information molecules. The sugar code.
Chapter 5. Nucleic acids.
Nucleotides. Primary structure of nucleic acids. Secondary structure of DNA: Watson and Crick model and alternative structure. Nucleic acid ternary structure: tRNA and DNA supercoil. Chromosome organization.
Chapter 6. Function and protein evolution: oxygen transport proteins.
Oxygen store: myoglobin. Oxygen transport: hemoglobin: Allosteric and cooperative binding. Protein evolution examples. Different hemoglobin shapes: physiologic adaptation and molecular pathology.
Chapter 7. Enzymes, enzymatic kinetics, and regulation.
Nature and function. Classification and nomenclature of the enzymes. Catalytic effect in chemistry reactions. Enzymatic mechanism. Enzymatic cofactors. Enzymatic inhibition: allosteric, covalent modification. Biomedical and biotechnological applications.
Chapter 8. Lipids and biological membranes.
Lipid types and function. Structure and function of lipoprotein. Biological membranes.
METABOLISM
Chapter 9. Introduction to metabolism.
Metabolism: concept, organization and types. Biochemistry and thermodynamic reactions: Free energy in the biological process. ATP and other rich energy compounds. Oxidation-reduction biological reactions and electrons transporter. Metabolic process regulation.
Chapter 10. Biosignaling.
Properties of the transduction signal mechanism. Eukaryotic signal transduction system: main receptors. Introduction to signal transduction in prokaryotic.
Chapter 11. Carbohydrates metabolism.
Glycolysis. Lactic and alcoholic fermentation. Pentose phosphate pathway. Gluconeogenesis. Synthesis and degradation of glycogen. Carbohydrate Metabolism regulation.
Chapter 12. Principal path Oxidant metabolism.
Acetyl-CoA synthesis. Acid citric cycle. Anaplerotic reactions. Glyoxylate cycle.
Chapter 13. Energy transduction: oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis.
Chemiosmotic coupling. Mitochondrial electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Photosynthetic transport chain and phosphorylation. CO2 assimilation (Calvin cycle). Introduction to respiratory chain in bacterial photosystems.
Chapter 14. Lipid catabolism and nitrogen compounds bases.
Triacylglycerol and lipoprotein mobilization. Beta-oxidation of fat acids. Ketogenesis. Nitrogen cycle and urea cycle.
PROBLEM-BASED CONCEPTS
During seminars, we will solve different problems from the following topics previously studied in the subject:
- pH and buffer systems (Part 1),
- Macromolecules purification and characterization (Part 2),
- Kinetic enzymology (Part 3),
- Gibbs energy and equilibrium constant (Part 4),
- Reduction potential and redox reactions (Part 5).
The problems and exercises will be delivered through Campus Virtual during the course.
Methodology
Teaching methods
The teaching content is divided in two sections: theoretical concepts and problems. Each part with different methods. These activities could be complemented with tutorials previously appointed with the professor.
Theoretical concepts
The professor will explain the content of the program with the support of slide presentations that will be available to students on the subject's Virtual Campus in advance (Prior to the start of each unit).
These sessions will constitute the most important part of the theoretical section. It is recommended that students download the material posted on the CV, printed or in computer/tablet to follow the lectures properly.
Problems-based lessons
Throughout the course, 10 hours will be dedicated to problem-based class sessions.
The group will be divided into two subgroups, the lists of which will be made public at the beginning of the academic year. Students will attend scheduled sessions for their group.
At the beginning of the semester, the dossier with the problems of the subject to be solved during the course will be delivered through the Virtual Campus.
The dossier will contain 5 blocks, the exercises will be solved and discussed during the problems sessions.
Tutorials
The professor will be available for individual or small groups consultations when previously agreed.
Available material in Campus Virtual
Subject guide
Calendar for educational activities
Power point slides used during the lectures
Exercises list and complementary material
Evaluation description
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Exercises/problems Seminars | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 8, 4, 10, 2 |
| Lectures (Theoretical concepts) | 35 | 1.4 | 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, 6, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutoring | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, 4, 6, 9, 10, 2 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Solving exercises/problems | 28 | 1.12 | 3, 8, 4, 10, 2, 11 |
| Study | 65 | 2.6 | 1, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 11 |
Assessment
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
The evaluation of this subject will be continuous, and it is based on the grade of the following elements:
There are two segments to be evaluated, theoretical concepts and exercises,
1. Theoretical concepts: Individual evaluation in two partial exams (evaluations 1 and 2 in the calendar) with 30 multiple choice questions. The minimum qualification to pass this part should be equal or higher than 3.5 points out of 10. The qualification of the theoretical concepts corresponds to 75% of the final assessment.
2. Exercises/problems: Individual evaluation in one exam (evaluation 2 in the calendar) with several exercises, similar, but not the same, as those performed during the lessons. Qualification of exercises/problems correspond to the 25% of the final assessment.
Students must be evaluated of a minimum of 2/3 or 67% of the activities to complete this subject. Any student with less than 67% of the activities evaluated will be designated as “non evaluable”.
Make-up test: students who did not pass one of two of the sections of the course, could be reassessed for those segments or the entire topic with a new test schedule in the calendar.
Improving previous qualification: Every student has the right to repeat a test for reassessing for any segment of the evaluation to improve the previous qualification. However, the new qualification will be the final one. Previous qualification will no longer be considered.
To pass the subject a final average qualification must be 5 or higher (out of 10) following this calculation: Final theoretical test qualification (75%) and exercises (25%): Final qualification = (Average Theoretical test qualification x 0,75) + (Average exercises qualification x 0,25).
All the partial exams must reach at least 3.5 points (out of 10) in the qualification to be considered for average.
FINAL SINGLE EVALUATION SYSTEM
The final evaluation system will be a single test to evaluate all the program of the course. This test will have a theoretical section with 30 multiple choice questions and a section to solve exercises/problems. The grade of this test will be the 100% of the assessment. This test will be performed at the same time and in the same place than the last test described for the continuous assessment.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Test (Theoretical concepts) | 37,5% | 3 | 0.12 | 7, 3, 8, 5, 4, 6, 9, 2 |
| Second Test (Problems) | 25% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 7, 3, 8, 5, 4, 6, 9, 10, 2, 11 |
| Second test (Theoretical concepts) | 37,5% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 7, 5, 4, 10, 2 |
Bibliography
Bibliography
Theory (por orden alfabético)
- Feduchi E., Blasco I., Romero C. & Yáñez E. (2011) Bioquímica. Conceptos esenciales. 1ª ed. Ed. Médica Panamericana
- McKee, T. y McKee, J.R. Bioquímica. Las bases moleculares de la vida. (2014). 5a ed. Mc Graw Hill Editores. http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199316700/
- Murray, R.K. et al. Harper Bioquímica Ilustrada. (2013) 29a ed. Mc Graw Hill Editores..
- Nelson, D.L. and Cox, M.M. Lehninger-Principios de Bioquímica. (2014) 6a ed. Ed. Omega..
- Nelson, D.L. and Cox, M.M. Lehninger-Principles of Biochemistry. (2017) 7a ed. Ed. W.H. Freeman.
- Tymoczko, J.L., Berg, J.M. Stryer L. Bioquímica. Curso básico. (2014) Ed. Reverté.
- Voet D., Voet J.G. and Pratt C.W. Principles of Biochemistry. (2012) 4a ed. Wiley.
PROBLEMS
- Lehninger, Mathews, Stryer books contain problem at the end of each chapter.
Software
There are no specific sofware associated to this course.