Code: | Q3002 | Acronym: | Q3002 | Level: | 300 |
Keywords | |
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Classification | Keyword |
OFICIAL | Chemistry |
Active? | Yes |
Web Page: | |
Responsible unit: | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
Course/CS Responsible: | Bachelor in Chemistry |
Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L:B | 0 | Official Study Plan | 3 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
L:CC | 0 | Plano de estudos a partir de 2014 | 2 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
3 | |||||||
L:F | 0 | Official Study Plan | 2 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
3 | |||||||
L:G | 0 | study plan from 2017/18 | 2 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
3 | |||||||
L:M | 2 | Official Study Plan | 2 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
3 | |||||||
L:Q | 47 | study plan from 2016/17 | 3 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
The main goal of this course is to present a coherent and integrated view of the chemical foundations of major biological phenomena, beginning with a description of the molecular basis of life and continuing with a physico-chemical description and rationalization of vital biological processes and major metabolic pathways of living organisms.
It is intended that the students develop the following skills and abilities: 1. To identify the major chemical components of biological systems, to characterize their structure and know their main functions. 2. To apply the basic principles of energetics to processes that occur in living systems. 3. To recognize the role of enzymes as biological catalysts and to understand the kinetics associated with their operation. 4. To know the basics of the main metabolic processes and understand their biological significance.
LECTURES
1.THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF LIFE AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
1.1 Chemical constituents of biological systems Water. Ions with biological importance. Carbohydrates. Lipids. Proteins. Nucleic acids.
1.2 Genetic information: storage / transmission.
1.3 Major metabolic pathways of cells. Glycolysis. Krebs cycle. Oxidative phosphorylation. Comparison of the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation and substrate-level phosphorylation. Photosynthesis.
2. TEMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC ASPECTS OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES
2.1 The life and laws of thermodynamics; Gibbs energy as a criterion of spontaneity of biological processes; equilibrium and the minimumof Gibbs energy
2.2 The hydrophobic effect and self-aggregation of amphiphilic macromolecules, micelles, liposomes and biological membranes (structure and composition); importance of cell compartmentalization for life
2.3 The thermodynamics of transport through membranes; active transport and passive transport. Electrochemical membrane potential. Active transport energy. Chemiosmotic theory.
2.4 Thermodynamics of biochemical reactions; standard biochemical state, spontaneity and coupling. Oxidation-reduction reactions and cellular respiration. Acid-base properties of amino acids and proteins and acid-base buffers in biological environments.
2.3 Enzymatic kinetics. Basic equations of enzymatic kinetics; equation of Michaëlis-Menten. Enzymatic inhibition. Effect of pH and temperature on the rate of enzymatic reactions.
The course comprises theoretical lectures and problem-solving classes, in which the students will also make oral presentations on selected topics.
designation | Weight (%) |
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Participação presencial | 5,00 |
Teste | 95,00 |
Total: | 100,00 |
designation | Time (hours) |
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Frequência das aulas | 56,00 |
Total: | 56,00 |
Attendance of practical classes is mandatory. The student loses frequency if he/she exceeds a number of absences equal to 1/4 of the lessons foreseen.