Biochemistry II

Code: QUI13989I

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biochemistry

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde e bem-estar - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Trabalho decente e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Learning Goals

1. Provide students with solid knowledge about the role of metabolism as a cell activity greatly regulated, where multi-enzymatic complexes and metabolic pathways cooperate to capture and to convert electromagnetic radiation and/or to digest and oxide nutrients which produce chemical energy and materials used in preservation, growth and reproduction of living beings as well as the gene structure and function, via of information flux and regulation of gene expression.

2. Provide capacity to identify metabolic pathways and respective regulation points, to execute team works, in integrated form, which evaluate as diet, circadian rhythm, xenobiotics or age affect the animal metabolism according biochemistry ethic and deontology; analytical results interpretation from metabolic studies and/or data search results obtained by information technologies, which facilitate decisions on selection of animal nutrition or detection of pathologies

1. Bioenergetics, metabolic pathways, their control and energy flux. 2. Carbohydrates metabolism, glycolysis, pentose-phosphate pathway, citrate cycle and respiratory chain and lactic fermentation. Glycogen metabolism. Gluconeogenesis. 3. Lipid metabolism, digestion and absorption. Activation and control of fatty acid oxidation. Biosynthesis, elongation, and unsaturation of fatty acids. Glyoxylate cycle. 4. Photosynthesis. 5. Cholesterol metabolism, steroid hormones, and bile acids. Lipoproteins Classes: HDL, LDL, VLDL and chylomicron. 6. Metabolism of eicosanoids. 7. Urea cycle. 8. Hormonal regulation of metabolism. 9. Reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species with relevance in biochemistry, superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl and nitric oxide. Non-radical ROS: hydrogen peroxide, or peroxynitrites. 10. Oxidative stress, adaptation, damages, repair, and death. Necrosis vs apoptosis. Antioxidant systems. Role of RS in inflammation, immunity, and senescence.

Teaching Methods

1.The lectures are plenary sessions structured in scientific method which combine subject exposition and bibliographic-assisted search for generate skills that lead to understanding of bioenergetics, cell metabolism, structure and function of genes, senescence and cell death.

2.Practical laboratory classes take place in small groups that carry out, with the support of the teacher, tests based on previously provided protocols, with guidance to acquire skills for preparing reports and oral presentation of research papers.

Assessment methods:
theoretical component - 2 tests or a final exam (45% final grade),
practical component - continuous assessment of laboratory performance (20% final grade),
- presentation and oral discussion of results (20% final classification).
- oral presentation of a research paper (15% final classification).