Biochemistry

Recommended Prerequisites

The student must have a background in basic Physical-chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biology. Ability to read scientifc texts in English

Teaching Methods

Lectures, lab classes

Learning Outcomes

The understanding of structure and function of biomacromolecules. The students should be able:

1. To understand the basic chemical properties of biomolecules and how these properties determine its structure and functions.

2.  To be able to discuss how the collections of inanimate molecules that constitute living organisms interact to maintain and perpetuate life animated solely by the physical and chemical laws that govern the nonliving universe.

More specifically:

a) Structure-function relationship of biomolecules

b) How do the interactions of the biomolecules give rise to supramolecular structures, cells, tissues, and organisms

c)  Reactions and compartmentalization

d)  Biomolecules as pharmacologic targets

3. The student should be able to apply the Biochemistry to tackle problems and understand the process, the mechanism and their regulation in the areas of, Biomedicine, Physiology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Agriculture, Nutrition and Environmen

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Water and weak chemical interactions. Hydrophobic effect and spontaneous molecular organization.

Proteins:

Translation and post-translational control. Proteome dynamics

Aminoacids. Protein structure.

Domains in proteins and critical examples in biological processes.

Protestic groups and redox activity of proteins.

Supramolecular organization. Structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Mutations, conformational changes and function.

Proteostasis and dynamic state in the cell. Chaperones, ubiquitin:proteosome system and autophagy.

Enzymes, mechanisms, kinetics and regulation.

Glucides: structure and biological relevance

Lipids and biological membranes: structure and diversity of functions. Organization in water.

Nucleic acids and genetic information.

Metabolism.

 

Lab classes:

Acid-base properties of aminoacids.

Conformational stability and  solubility of proteins

Quantification and fractionation: ionic exchange chromatography

Enzymatic activity and inhibition

Head Lecturer(s)

João António Nave Laranjinha

Assessment Methods

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

In addition to classical Biochemistry Books, indicated below, the professor provides the students with a manual, consisting in the slides presneted in the classes, annotated the notes page and organized in chapters. Each slide is annotated with the help of research papers and professor´s notes. The research papers are thus included as references along the slides according to the respective subjects under discussion.

 

- Nelson, D. L. and Cox, M. M.: Lehninger. Principles of Biochemistry. 8th edition. W. H. Freeman and Company. New York.

- Devlin, T. M.: Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations. 7^th edition, Wiley -Liss.  A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publication, New York.

- Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and L. Stryer.: Biochemistry. 7th edition. W. H. Freeman and Company. New York.

- Andrea Da Poian, Miguel Castanho. Integrative Human Biochemistry; a textbook for Medical Biochemistry. Springer 2021.