Biochemistry II
Keywords |
Classification |
Keyword |
OFICIAL |
Physical Sciences |
Instance: 2020/2021 - 2S
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
Cellular metabolism is an integrated set of chemical reactions that aims to produce energy and to use it to synthesise the building blocks for protein, lipid and carbohydrate production. The Biochemistry 2 subject aims at studying the cellular metabolism and the molecular mechanisms underlying its regulation, as well as the signal transduction pathways used to receive, process, amplify and integrate intra and extracellular signals. The student must be able to recognize and explain the function of metabolic pathways, relate digestion and the production and storage of energy with food composition, relate the mechanisms of metabolic regulation by hormones, enzyme activation and inhibition and other mechanisms with energy and metabolites requirements, recognize and explain the molecular bases of metabolism, including glucose and lipid homeostasis and function of antioxidants, relate the metabolic pathways with the molecular bases, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and actively participate in the resolution of problems.
Learning outcomes and competences
It is expected that the student taking this course learns the basic principles of primary metabolism, and knows the most important interrelationships between different pathways. Also, the student should be able describe the most important regulatory mechanisms of these biochemcial pathways in both health and disease.
Working method
Presencial
Program
Theoretical and theoretical-practical classes: Carbohydrate metabolism – Glycolysis and its regulation. Lactic acid fermentation. The glycerol-phosphate shuttle and the malate-aspartate shuttle. Glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis. The pentose-phosphate pathway. Hormonal regulation: the molecular mechanism of action of insulin, glucagon and epinephrine. Insulin-dependent and –independent Diabetes Mellitus. Metabolism of galactose, fructose and ethanol. Galactosemia, fructosuria, hereditary fructose intolerance and alcoholism. Bioenergetics – the complex pyruvate dehydrogenase and the Krebs cycle. Allosteric regulation and hormonal regulation. Oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibitors and uncouplers. Lipid metabolism – Digestion and absorption of lipids. Lipolysis and beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Synthesis and energetic role of ketone bodies. Synthesis of fatty acids. Biosynthesis of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids. Biosynthesis of cholesterol. Primary and secondary bile acids. Steroid hormones. Lipoproteins. Hypercholesteremia. Integration of lipid metabolism. Oxidative stress - Reactive oxygen species and oxidative damages. Primary and secondary antioxidant defences. Natural antioxidants. Atherosclerosis. Ischemia-reperfusion syndrome. Aminoacid metabolism – Aminotransferases and glutamate dehydrogenase. Biosynthesis of non-essential aminoacids. Catabolism of aminoacids. The urea cycle and its regulation. Ammonia toxicity. Conversion of aminoacids to specialized products – HEME, melanine, hormones, neurotransmitters and nitric oxide. Porphyria and jaundice. Nucleotide metabolism – Synthesis of purines and pyrimidines. Inhibitors of nucleotide biosynthesis and replication. Catabolism of purines and pyrimidines. Gout. Lesch-Nhyan syndrome. Tumors and chemotherapy. Cancer cachexia. Integration of metabolism – metabolic adaptations to starvation. Diabetes Mellitus. Metabolic adaptations to exercise. Obesity.
PL classes: Carbohydrate metabolism - exercise and lactic acidosis - deficiency in phosphofrutokinase. Type 1 and 2 Diabetes mellitus. Glucose tolerance test. Gluconeogenesis: inhibition by ethanol. Fructose intolerance. Glycogen storage diseases. Bioenergetics - Uncouplers and inhibitors of the oxidative phosphorylation. Lipid metabolism – Lipolysis and beta-oxidation - the carnitine system. The deficiency in MCAD. The propionyl-CoA carboxylase. The deficiency in vitamin B12. Insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus. The peroxisomal beta-oxidation (Zellweger syndrome). The familial hipercholesterolemia. Other lipid disorders (e.g., Wolman disease). Alcohol toxicity. Oxidative stress – Favism and deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Ischemia-reperfusion syndrome. Aminoacid and heme metabolism - Deficiency in the urea cycle and ammonia toxicity. Phenilketonuria. Acute intermittent porphyria. Nucleotide metabolism – hereditary orotic aciduria. Hyperammonemia with orotic aciduria.
Mandatory literature
David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox; Lehninger principles of biochemistry (7th Edition), 2017. ISBN: 9781319108243
Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer; Biochemistry,, 2015. ISBN: 9781319153939
Devlin Thomas M; Textbook of biochemistry with clinical correlations. ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-470-28173-4
Teaching methods and learning activities
Theoretical and TP classes for the development of the syllabus topics, with continuous interaction with the students.
PL classes - study and discussion of the main metabolic pathways, using a problem-based approach (mostly based on clinical cases). Students will work in groups of 3-4, discussing the problems between them, with the other groups and with the teacher.
Evaluation Type
Evaluation with final exam
Assessment Components
Designation |
Weight (%) |
Exame |
100,00 |
Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
Designation |
Time (hours) |
Estudo autónomo |
54,00 |
Frequência das aulas |
81,00 |
Total: |
135,00 |
Eligibility for exams
According to the General Regulation of the University of Porto Learners Assessment is considered a student fulfills the attendance to a course if, having been regularly enrolled, does not exceed the number limit faults corresponding to 25% of the foreseen classes, as regulated in the existing organizational unit.
Calculation formula of final grade
Final classification = classification in the final written exam
OR
Mean of the 2 tests ("Frequências"). In this case, the student must reach at least 7,5 points (in 20) in each test.
Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)
According to the regulations of University of Porto.
Classification improvement
According to the regulations of University of Porto, through a final written exam.