CHEMISTRY AND PROPEDEUTIC BIOCHEMISTRY
Chemistry and basic biochemistry
1) CHEMICAL BONDS. Covalent and ionic bonding, molecules and crystals
2) SOLUTIONS. Water properties, solvation and electrolytes, hydrogen bond, concentration of the solutions.
3) ACID-BASE BALANCE. Fundamentals (strength of the acids and the bases pH, pK), buffering, biological buffers, Handerson-Hasselbalch equation
4) BIOENERGETICS (I). Principles of the thermodynamics, free energy and spontaneous reactions, high-energy bonds.
5) BIOENERGETICS (II). Redox potentials, redox pairs of particular biological importance, oxidative phosphorylation.
6) ENZYMES. Reaction rate and chemical equilibrium, catalysts and biological catalysis, specificity and control of enzymatic reactions
7) ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. Functional groups: alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, carboxyl acids, amines. Nomenclature and main characteristics. Main types of isomers. Aromatic compounds.
8) LIPIDS. Fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids. Detergents and micelles. NUCLEIC ACIDS. Nitrogenous bases and nucleotides, DNA and RNA
9) CARBOHYDRATES. Monosaccharides, pentoses, hexoses, anomers and epimers; glycosidic bond, di- and polysaccharides
10) AMINOACIDS AND PROTEINS. General structure and properties of the main side chains. Peptide bond and protein structure.
Chemistry and basic biochemistry
All didactic material presented in the classes as well the one necessary for the preparation of the examination (slides, pantries, exercises) is available in the e-learning platform.
Textbook suggested according to the individual preferences (written in Italian).
M. Samaja, R. Paroni - Chimica e Biochimica per le lauree triennali dell’area biomedica – Piccin editore (simple but complete, suitable for the Biochemistry class too).
Fiecchi A., Galli Kienle M., Scala A, Chimica e propedeutica biochimica - edi ermes editore (synthetic and complete);
Stefani S., Taddei N. - Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia applicata - Zanichelli editore (more details and points of view);
Roberti R., Alunni Bistocchi G., Elementi di Chimica e Biochimica - McGraw Hill editore (very simple and synthetic).
Chemistry and basic biochemistry
The course takes place through 18 lessons of 2 hours in classroom or online, depending on the University's decisions, each covering the entire exam program. Through the e-learning platform, exercises, commentaries and on-line lessons are also available.
For any doubt or question regarding the lessons and their content, students may request and take an appointment with the Docent by writing at this email address: jenny.karousou@uninsubria.it