Overall objectives:

1 - This curricular unit aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for a better understanding of the biochemistry underlying the functioning of cells and living organisms.
2 - 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 - BASIC ASPECTS: Foundations of Organic Chemistry (functional groups, stereochemistry, acidic and basic character of molecules). Lipids. Amino acids and peptide bonding. Carbohydrates (aldoses/ketoses, acetals/hemiacetals, reducing sugars, glycosidic linkage). Nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. DNA replication. Transcription. Protein biosynthesis.
2 - PROTEINS: Structure and function. 3D representation of proteins. Globular and fibrous proteins. Post-translational modifications. Folding and refolding. Myoglobin and hemoglobin. Enzymes and enzymatic kinetics.
3 - BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES: Complexity and diversity of biological membranes. Membrane proteins. General aspects of membrane dynamics and permeability. Transport of molecules across the membrane: biophysical aspects. Membrane channels and pumps.
4 - METABOLISM: Basic concepts and design. Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Fermentations. Pentose phosphate pathway. Citric acid cycle. Electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. Fatty acid metabolism. Protein turnover and aminoacid catabolism. General regulatory strategies.

Literature/Sources:

Alberts B et al. , 2020 , Molecular Biology of the Cell , W. W. Norton & Company
Devlin TM (editor) , 2010 , Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations , Wiley-Liss
Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr. , 2019 , Biochemistry , W.H. Freeman
José A. Martinho Simões et al. , 2017 , Guia do Laboratório de Química e Bioquímica , Lidel
William H. Brown, Thomas Poon , 2016 , Introduction to Organic Chemistry , Wiley

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
This course comprises 40 hours of theoretical classes, 12 hours of theoretical-practical sessions, and 12 hours of laboratory work. In the theoretical classes, the professor's teaching is accompanied by multimedia presentations, and the professor encourages discussions with the students throughout the classes. The theoretical-practical sessions focus on solving problems to enhance the understanding of the subject matter. The laboratory sessions are linked to the curriculum and involve learning/training in several laboratory techniques commonly used in Biochemistry; all experimental work is carried out 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).