Topic |
Sub-topic |
1. Chemical composition of biological systems. |
Macrobiogenic, microbiogenic and trace elments.
The molecular logic of life.
Structure of biological macromolecules. |
2. Structural biochemistry of proteins. |
Aminoacids: structure and properties.
Peptide bond features.
Three-dimensional structure of proteins: protein folding.
Protein denaturation. |
3. Principles of biocatalysis and regulation of enzyme activity. |
Enzymes as biological catalysts.
Enzyme structure and functional principles.
How enzymes work.
Substrate specificity: the active site.
Classification of enzymes and nomenclature.
Enzyme kinetics: the Michaelis-Menten equation and calculation of kinetic parameters. |
4. Structural biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Biological relevance. |
Structural units: structure and chemical properties.
Macromolecular structure of carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids.
Biological relevance. |
5. Cell membrane and extracellular matrix. |
Structure, composition and functions.
Membrane transport.
Cell junctions. |
6. Organelles and intracellular traffic. |
Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus.
Vesicular trafficking.
Cell digestion: peroxisomes and lysosomes.
Mitochondria: structure and function.
Cytoplasmic inclusions. |
7. Cytoskeleton and cell movement. |
Actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. |
8. Nucleus, cell cycle, apoptosis. |
Nuclear envelope.
Chromatin and chromosomes: structure and dynamics.
Nucleolus.
Cell cycle regulation.
Cell death: apoptosis and necrosis. |
Practice 1. Assay of enzyme activity. |
Obtention of an active fraction of beta-D-galactosidase.
Measurement of beta-D-galactosidase activity. |
Practice 2. Quantification of total protein content in biological samples. |
Seroalbumin standard calibration curve by the Lowry method.
Determination of protein concentration in beta-D-galactosidase extract. |
Practice 3. Kinetic characterization of enzyme activity. |
Substrate saturation curve for beta-D-galactosidase.
Determining Km and Vmax. |
Practice 4. Thermal stability and optimum pH. |
Determining the optimum pH of beta-D-galactosidase activity.
Thermal inactivation of beta-D-galactosidase. |
Practice 5. Cell types and extracellular matrix. |
Observation of cell types and extracellular matrices at light microscopy. |
Practice 6. Cell organelles I. |
Observation of cell organelles at light microscopy. |
Practice 7. Cell organelles II. |
Identification of cell organelles in electron microscopy images. |
Practice 8. Cell cycle. |
Observation and quantification of mitotic phases in animal tissues. |