Biological Chemistry

Code:

Q3002

Acronym:

Q3002

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Chemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	1	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	3	-	6	56	162
L:M	4	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	56	162
			3
L:Q	34	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

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.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

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.

Working method

Presencial

Program

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. PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROCESSES: SELF-ASSEMBLY, TRANSPORTE AND CATALYSIS
2.1 Self-Organization and Biomembranes. Self-organization of lipids: micelles, vesicles and liqui crystals; phase diagrams; the biological cell membranes; structure and composition of the membranes; compartmentalization.

2.2 Bioenergetics. Standard state in biochemistry and thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. Membrane potential, electrochemical potential, electrochemical balance. Membrane permeability, active transport and passive transport. Energetics of active transport. Chemiosmotic theory. Action potential in nerve cells.

2.3 Enzyme Kinetics. Basic equations of enzyme kinetics; Michaelis-Menten equation.Enzyme inhibition. Allosteric effects. Effect of pH and temperature on the speed of enzymatic reactions.

 

Mandatory literature

000088543. ISBN: 978-0-7167-4339-2
000096606. ISBN: 978-972-757-431-5
000086332. ISBN: 0-7167-3746-9
000087496. ISBN: 1-891389-33-5
000089321. ISBN: 0-1992-8095-9 (Oxford)

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course comprises theoretical lectures and problem-solving classes, in which the students will also make oral presentations on selected topics.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Participação presencial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	22,00
Estudo autónomo	84,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

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.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation will involve two components: (i) attendance, problem solving and oral presentations, grade N (AC), (ii) written part, grade NE.

The final grade will be calculated as follows: NF = 0.20 x N (AC) + 0.80 x NE.

The written part comprises test T1 and test T2 test performed during the regular season, with:

NE = 0.50 x T1 + 0.50 x T2  

Approval implies cumulativey grade T1 ≥ 8 (out of 20), grade T2 ≥ 8 out of 20), NE ≥ 10 (em 20) e NF ≥ 10.

Grade NE is recalculated to 16.0 (80% NF). Grade N (AC), corresponding to 4.0 points (20% NF), has the following components: attendance in class and evaluation of practical classes.
In the regular season exam, the students may take T1 and/or T2 if they did not get approval (≥ 8). In the retake season exam, the students may perform T1 and/or T2 for approval or improval of grades.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Students with the status of student-worker who can not attend the theoretical-practical classes need to contact the teachers so as to have N (AC) grade replaced with the grade of a monograph or oral presentation.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with the status of Worker-Student who can not attend the theoretical-practical classes should contact the teachers of the discipline in the sense of the corresponding grade N (AC) be replaced by the grade of a monographic work or oral presentation.

Classification improvement

In the retake season exam, the students may perform T1 and/or T2 for improval of grades.