Overall objectives:

1 - In articulation with other curricular units, Biochemistry I aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for a better understanding of the chemical and physical phenomena that underlie the functioning of cells and living organisms. The student is also expected to develop competencies and skills (some transversal and other specific) related to the: Capacity for teamwork; Ability for intellectual concentration and self-study; Capacity of critical thinking; Capacity for applying the acquired knowledge in new situations; Laboratory work; Ability to design experimental strategies, interpret results and communicate those results in the written and oral form.

Syllabus:

1 - PROTEINS Structure and function. 3D representation of proteins. Globular and fibrous proteins. Post-translation modifications. Folding and refolding. Myoglobin and hemoglobin.
2 - BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES Constitution, complexity, and diversity of biological membranes. Cell membrane asymmetry. Membrane proteins. General aspects of membrane dynamics and their permeability. Molecular transport across the membrane: biophysical aspects. Channels and membrane pumps.
3 - METABOLISM Metabolism: basic concepts and design. Bioenergetics. Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Fermentations. Citric acid cycle. Electronic transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. Photosynthesis. Calvin cycle and pentose phosphate pathway. Glycogen metabolism. Fatty acid metabolism. Protein turnover and amino acid catabolism. Biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, and membrane lipids. General strategies of regulation of metabolism. Metabolism integration.

Literature/Sources:

Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr. , Biochemistry. W.H. Freeman Company, New York, 9th edition (2019) ,
Devlin TM (editor) , Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations. Wiley-Liss, New York, 7th edition (2010) ,
Alberts B et al. , Molecular Biology of the Cell. W. W. Norton & Company, 6th edition (2014) ,
José A. Martinho Simões et al. , Guia do Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica (3ª Edição, 2013) ,
Vários , Artigos de revisão na área. ,

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The curricular unit includes 40 hours of theoretical classes and 24 hours of practical classes. In the former, the teacher's teaching is accompanied by multimedia projection; during classes, the teacher is always open to answer questions from the students, also asking questions. The laboratory classes are related with the syllabus and involve the learning/training in various laboratory techniques frequently used in Biochemistry; all the experimental studies are conducted in groups. The evaluation of the UC consists of: a) 2 written tests to assess the knowledge and skills acquired by each student (70% weight); b) scientific reports of the experimental work done to assess the ability of the students to interpret the experimental results and communicate them in written form, as well as their ability to work as a team (30% weight).