GAETANA PAOLELLA | APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
GAETANA PAOLELLA APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
cod. 0522300040
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
| 0522300040 | |
| DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY "ADOLFO ZAMBELLI" | |
| EQF7 | |
| CHEMISTRY | |
| 2024/2025 |
| OBBLIGATORIO | |
| YEAR OF COURSE 1 | |
| YEAR OF DIDACTIC SYSTEM 2016 | |
| SPRING SEMESTER |
| SSD | CFU | HOURS | ACTIVITY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO/10 | 5 | 40 | LESSONS | |
| BIO/10 | 1 | 12 | LAB |
| Objectives | |
|---|---|
| The general objective of the course is to provide knowledge of the main methodologies for studying the most important classes of macromolecules of biological interest (proteins, nucleic acids), with particular reference to the presentation of production, purification and characterisation strategies for these macromolecules Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione At the end of this course, the student - will have deepened their knowledge of the chemical and physical characteristics of macromolecules of biological interest; - will have understood the physico-chemical principles underlying the main techniques used in biochemistry to purify and characterise these macromolecules Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensioneThe student will be able to - identify the technique(s) of choice for the purification, characterisation and analysis of particular classes of biological macromolecules - practically apply selected techniques for the characterisation and analysis of biological macromolecules for the execution of simple biochemical protocols - process the information obtained from such application (e.g. calculate the yield of a purification process, the specific activity of an enzyme); - identify the structural and functional characteristics of proteins and nucleic acids on the basis of results obtained by various techniques. Autonomia di giudizio The student will be able to: - identify advantages and disadvantages of the practical application of the presented techniques to purify and analyse macromolecules of biological interest; - critically evaluate pre-formulated protocols for protein production and purification. Abilità comunicative The student will be able to: - be able to describe the results obtained in the laboratory environment by using written texts, and be able to represent them correctly by using graphs and tables; - communicate the knowledge acquired in oral form using correct technical-scientific language. Capacità di apprendimento The student will be able to - use traditional bibliographical tools and IT resources for analysis and archiving; - carry out research activities, understand and interpret complex texts; - continuously update their knowledge, using technical and scientific literature |
| Prerequisites | |
|---|---|
| THE STUDENT MUST HAVE ACQUIRED THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE IN BIOCHEMISTRY PROVIDED BY THE TRIENNIAL STUDY PROGRAM, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON: - CHEMICAL FEATURES OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES (PROTEINS, NUCLEIC ACIDS, LIPIDS, GLUCIDS) - ROLE OF THESE MACROMOLECULES IN THE HUMAN BODY |
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| THE TEACHING INCLUDES 40 HOURS OF DIDACTICS IN THE FORM OF FRONTAL LECTURES AND GUIDED CLASSROOM EXERCISES, AND 12 HOURS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY (1 ECTS), DURING WHICH STUDENTS DIRECTLY TEST WHAT THE LECTURER INTRODUCES IN THE LECTURE (USING A LEARNING-BY-DOING APPROACH). TOPICS COVERED IN THE CLASSROOM LECTURES ARE: - STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS (APPROXIMATELY 2 HR LECTURE) - ELEMENTS OF CYTOLOGY, CELL CULTURES, CELL VIABILITY ASSAYS (ABOUT 3 HR FRONTAL LECTURE) - METHODS FOR PROTEIN AND DNA PURIFICATION: HOMOGENIZATION OF CELLS AND TISSUES, DIFFERENTIAL PRECIPITATION METHODS, CENTRIFUGATION TECHNIQUES (ABOUT 5 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES (ABOUT 5 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - ELECTROFORETIC METHODS FOR PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS (ABOUT 5 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS FOR THE STUDY OF PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS: UV-VIS ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY, FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY, CIRCULAR DICHROISM, IR, NMR (ABOUT 4 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACID SEQUENCING TECHNIQUES: CLASSICAL AND NEXT-GENERATION TECHNIQUES (ABOUT 4 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - IMMUNOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES (IMMUNOPRECIPITATION, WESTERN BLOT, ENZYME IMMUNOASSAYS (ABOUT 4 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - RICOMBINANT DNA METHODOLOGIES (HYBRIDIZATION, PCR, CLONING, RECOMBINANT PROTEINS) (ABOUT 4 H FRONTAL LECTURE) - APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF STRUCTURAL BIOINFORMATICS (APPROXIMATELY 4 H OF GUIDED CLASSROOM EXERCISES) TOPICS COVERED IN BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY EXERCISES (TOTALING 12 H) ARE: PREPARATION OF PROTEIN EXTRACTS FROM CELL CULTURES, COLORIMETRIC METHODS FOR PROTEIN ASSAY, ELECTROPHORESIS, PCR. |
| Teaching Methods | |
|---|---|
| TEACHING INVOLVES 52 HOURS (6 CFU) OF DIDACTICS DIVIDED INTO LECTURES (40 HRS), AND PRACTICAL LABORATORY (1 CFU, 12 HRS). CLASSROOM LECTURES WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH THE AID OF PROJECTIONS AND ACCESS TO MULTIMEDIA MATERIALS FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE. GUIDED STRUCTURAL BIOINFORMATICS TUTORIALS WILL INVOLVE GUIDED ACTIVITIES IN WHICH STUDENTS WILL WORK ON COMPUTERS OR OTHER DEVICES THAT ALLOW ONLINE ACCESS AND LEARN WHAT ARE THE MAIN BIOINFORMATICS TOOLS FOR CHARACTERIZING SEQUENCE, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF PROTEINS, AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN THE BIOLOGICAL FIELD. ACTIVITIES IN THE BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY MAY INCLUDE SUDIVISION IN GROUPS OF STUDENTS, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE CLASS. |
| Verification of learning | |
|---|---|
| THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE TEACHING OBJECTIVES IS CERTIFIED BY PASSING AN EXAMINATION WITH EVALUATION IN THIRTIETHS. THE EXAMINATION INCLUDES AN ORAL TEST THAT CONSISTS OF AN INTERVIEW WITH QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION ON THE THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL CONTENT INDICATED IN THE PROGRAM OF THE TEACHING AND IS AIMED AT ASCERTAINING THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY OF UNDERSTANDING ACHIEVED BY THE STUDENT, AS WELL AS VERIFYING THE ABILITY TO EXPOSITION USING THE APPROPRIATE TERMINOLOGY AND THE ABILITY TO INDEPENDENTLY ORGANIZE THE EXPOSITION ON THE SAME TOPICS WITH THEORETICAL CONTENT. WILL ALSO BE ASSESSED ALWAYS BY INTERVIEW THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS NOTIONS LEARNED DURING THE HOURS OF PRACTICE AND LABORATORY. THE TEST AS A WHOLE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO ASCERTAIN BOTH THE ABILITY TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE SKILLS ACQUIRED, THE ABILITY TO EXPOUND, AND THE ABILITY TO LEARN AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS IN AUTONOMOUS JUDGMENT. MINIMUM SCORE (18/30) IS GRANTED WHEN THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATES LIMITED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED. MAXIMUM SCORE (30/30) IS GRANTED WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWS COMPLETE AND APPROPRIATE KNOWLEDGE AND IS ABLE TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TOPICS COVERED. HONORS WILL BE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS CORRECTLY, DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENT LANGUAGE SKILLS AND CRITICAL ABILITY IN EXPOSITION, IN ADDITION TO THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST MARK. |
| Texts | |
|---|---|
| REFERENCE TEXT: STOPPINI, BELLOTTI: "APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY". EDISES THE LECTURER WILL INDICATE FROM TIME TO TIME WHICH CHAPTERS AND PARAGRAPHS ARE USEFUL TO CONSULT FOR CONTENT LEARNING OTHER TEXTS FOR FURTHER STUDY: BONACCORSI DI PATTI, CONTESTABILE, DI SALVO: "BIOCHEMICAL METHODOLOGIES". AMBROSIAN PUBLISHING HOUSE. THE LECTURER WILL INDICATE FROM TIME TO TIME WHICH CHAPTERS AND PARAGRAPHS IT IS USEFUL TO CONSULT FOR FURTHER STUDY OF PARTICULAR TOPICS. OTHER MATERIALS: AT THE END OF EACH LECTURE THE LECTURER PROVIDES A BULLETED LIST OF ADDITIONAL MATERIALS CONSULTED, ACCESSIBLE ONLINE, PROVIDING THE LINKS DIRECTLY IN THE SLIDES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS. |
| More Information | |
|---|---|
| THE REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT LECTURES IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE LECTURER DURING OFFICE HOURS OR BY E-MAIL AMARABOTTI@UNISA.IT OR VIA TEAMS PLATFORM. |
BETA VERSION Data source ESSE3 [Ultima Sincronizzazione: 2025-07-16]
