Molecular Structure of the Cell

Code:

MI120

Acronym:

EMC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Biomedicina
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	358	Plano Oficial 2021	1	-	7	66	189

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1. we will always try to keep in mind the medical nature of the course, namely by highlighting the clinical relevance of the subjects;

2. we intend to interconnect the areas as much as possible, either by including subjects that were classically attributed to Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, or by involving teachers from two of the units of FMUP's Biomedicine Department (Biochemistry and Experimental Biology);

3. we will value the learning along the semester, keeping the weight of the continuous assessment and performing two written tests of knowledge assessment;

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Learning outcomes and competences

Competences: Understand the specific vocabulary of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Have the ability to use the knowledge of Biochemistry and Cell Biology in critical analysis of information and practice of other medical disciplines. Have the ability to collect information on a biochemical subject and present it in an intelligible and contextualised manner. Have basic laboratory skills in a Biochemistry or Cell Biology laboratory. Understand the role of scientific research for the analysis and possible resolution of medical problems.

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Working method

Presencial

Program

1- Lectures: will be taught structural topics of Biochemistry and Cell Biology with emphasis on Medicine. As already mentioned, we had present the introductory nature of this UC in the way the subjects were chosen and aligned. Thus, it will be relevant the denomination and the biological role of the chemical constituents of living beings with special attention to those that are part of the human being constitution or that interact with it (such as nutrients), namely: glycids, lipids, proteins, glycoproteins, glycated proteins, amino acids, inorganic compounds and water. The main concepts and methodologies of cell study will be addressed, particularly the structure of membranes and their role in transport and the structure of the extracellular matrix and filaments and microtubular system. The function, specificity and nomenclature of enzymes and the basics of enzyme kinetics, the general factors and mechanisms modifying enzyme activity, as well as acid-base reactions, the relationship of water to lipids and the meaning of phase systems will also be covered. The importance of uncertainty and error in Biochemistry and Medicine are also subjects of this course.

2- The seminars, are classes in which we discuss and present subjects in a more integrative way. We will address the vitamins and some hormones, as well as deepen the knowledge of this central structure that is the cell.

3- Group lessons, will be specially focused on how our body obtains and uses some of the structural forms essential to numerous functions, as well as corresponding clinical conditions:

Digestion and absorption of glycides. Structure of the most abundant glycogen in the diet. Digestion of starch, glycogen and disaccharides. Absorption and transport of glycogen in enterocyte membranes.
Digestion and absorption of proteins and nucleotides. Structure and biological role of amino acids. The digestive zymogens and their activation. The exo and endopeptidases. Digestion and absorption of lipids. Relationship between the structure of lipids, their solubility and their digestion. Role of bile salts in the digestion of lipids. The enzymes involved in the digestion of lipids.

4- In practical laboratory classes, students will have the opportunity to contact with some of the basic laboratory techniques in these areas and whose knowledge will be useful in other UCs. Within these classes will be developed a small project which will study the effect of nutrient intake on blood glucose, trying to take into account its meaning and relationship with diabetes.

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Mandatory literature

Alberts B., Heald R., Johnson A., Morgan D., Raff M., Roberts K. and Walter P; Molecular Biology of the Cell, W.W. Norton & Company, 2022. ISBN: 978-0-393.88482
Kennelly PJ, Botham KM, McGuinness O, Rodwell VW and Weil PA; Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry, McGraw-Hill Medical, 2022. ISBN: 978-1260469943
John Baynes, Marek Dominiczak; Medical Biochemistry, 5th Ed. Elsevier, 2018. ISBN: 9780702073007
Lodish H, Berk A, Kaiser CA, Krieger M, Bretscher A, Ploegh H, Martin KC, Yaffe M and Amon A; Molecular Cell Biology, 9th Ed,W. H. Freeman, 2021. ISBN: 978-1319208523
David L. Nelson; Lehninger principles of biochemistry. ISBN: 978-1-4641-2611-6

Complementary Bibliography

Frayn K.N; Regulação Metabólica, 3rd Ed. U.Porto Editorial. Porto, 2012. ISBN: 978-989-8265-93-7
Hipólito-Reis C., Alçada MN., Azevedo I; Práticas de Bioquímica para as Ciências da Saúde, Lidel, Lisboa, 2002. ISBN: 978-972-757-245-8
Nelson D.L., Cox M.M; Lehningher Principles of Biochemistry, W.H. Freeman and Company, 2021. ISBN: 978-1319228002

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures, seminars, group classes and practical laboratory classes.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry > Enzimology
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Cell biology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Teste	90,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	123,00
Frequência das aulas	66,00
Total:	189,00

Eligibility for exams

The participation in intermediate evaluations or in the exam, is conditioned to the presence in 75% of the total of the practical, group classes and seminars (that is, in this CU, maximum of 4 absences).

Calculation formula of final grade

NF = [(E1 + E2 + CE) x 0,1], for intermidiate assessment

NF = [(EX + CE) x 0,1], for the exam

E1 and E2- intermediate assessments
CE- continous assessment