Structure of Biomolecules and Metabolism

Recommended Prerequisites

General Chemistry I and II, Physical Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry  

Teaching Methods

 - Interactive lectures given by the teacher(s).

- Seminars, prepared individually by each student in English or Portuguese, appropriately commented by the teacher; followed by session of Q&A opened to all students and discussion of questions posed by the teacher.

Learning Outcomes

Since this course is designed for the Masters in Forensic Chemistry, it is necessary the students acquire specific skills in two major areas:

- Fundamental knowledge for the understanding of the methods and techniques in biological chemistry essential for forensic investigation;

- Understanding of the functioning of biological systems at the molecular level, in particular Man, with particular emphasis on metabolic aspects.

The second part of the course will have a major component of discussion, problem solving, and presentation by the students of specific cases and situations of biological systems response to situations of stress and aggression (e.g. poisoning).   

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

A. Fundamental concepts in structural Biological Chemistry

1. Nucleic Acids

2. Amino Acids and Proteins

3. Enzymes

4. Restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing and DNA fingerprinting

B. Fundamental concepts in Metabolism

5. Overview of metabolism

       5.1 Anabolism and catabolism

       5.2 Production and consumption of energy

       5.3 Metabolic pathways major and minor

6. Central Metabolism - an example in detail

7. Control of Metabolism

       7.1 Main points of allosteric control

       7.2 Hormonal control

C. Case discussions and practical situations of biological systems in functional stress (starvation, poisoning, etc.)   

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria João Pedrosa Ferreira Moreno Silvestre

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Exam: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Dada a abrangência dos tópicos a abordar, é aconselhado o uso de um bom livro base de referência, por exemplo:

 

1. Biochemistry

Donald Voet and Judith Voet

4th Edition, January 2011, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

 

2. Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level

Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Charlotte W. Pratt

ISBN: 978-1-118-91846-3

5th Edition, February 2016, Wiley

 

Adicionalmente, e dadas as caracterísitcas da disciplina, principalmente para preparar e resolver os casos propostos, os alunos terão de consultar fontes bibliográficas diversificadas: livros, artigos científicos, portais da internet e outros