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Biochemistry

Code: 101967
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Genetics FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Mohammed Moussaoui Keribii
Email :
mohammed.moussaoui@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no official prerequisites, but it is assumed that the student has previously acquired enough solid knowledge on subjects like Chemistry or Celular Biology 

 Much of the literature is in the English language, which is also used in the figures used in theory classes.

Objectives

In the Biochemistry course, the structural and functional characteristics of biomolecules from a basic and general point of view, focusing on proteins, and especially on enzymes, are studied in the first part. In a second part the concepts will be applied dynamically to understand the bioenergetics, the biosignalisation and the main routes of the metabolism. The general objective of the subject is to provide the basics of the molecular and metabolic aspects and concepts necessary for the monitoring of many subjects of the Degree of Genetics.

Specific objectives of the subject:

  •     Understand the fundamental structural features of biological molecules, knowing how to draw conclusions about their stability, their functionality and their capacity for replication of structures.
  •     Understand the kinetic concepts of enzymatic action in the context of the study of biological reactions and their regulation.
  •     Describe the general mechanisms through which living things get and transform the energy of the environment.
  •     To know the main molecular mechanisms of signal transduction.
  •     Describe the main routes of intermediate metabolism of glucids, lipids and nitrogen compounds, their regulation and coordination.
  •     Learn how to apply the knowledge studied to solve qualitative and quantitative problems.

Learning outcomes

  • CM04 (Integrate the molecular and energetic bases of vital processes, describing the structure, function and metabolism of the main biomolecules.) Integrate the molecular and energetic bases of vital processes, describing the structure, function and metabolism of the main biomolecules.
  • CM05 (Critically evaluate the results of experiments obtained using biochemical techniques, as a basis for the analysis of biological data.) Critically evaluate the results of experiments obtained using biochemical techniques, as a basis for the analysis of biological data.
  • CM06 (Integrate bioinformatics resources into the interpretation of complex biochemical results.) Integrate bioinformatics resources into the interpretation of complex biochemical results.
  • KM03 (Describe the structure, function, and metabolism of biomolecules, as well as bioenergetics processes in biological systems.) Describe the structure, function, and metabolism of biomolecules, as well as bioenergetics processes in biological systems.
  • KM04 (Identify the fundamentals and applications of basic experimental and computer techniques in the study of biomolecules and genomic processes) Identify the fundamentals and applications of basic experimental and computer techniques in the study of biomolecules and genomic processes
  • SM04 (Apply appropriate experimental techniques for the isolation, characterisation and analysis of biomolecules and biochemical processes.) Apply appropriate experimental techniques for the isolation, characterisation and analysis of biomolecules and biochemical processes.

Contents

THEORY


Topic 1. Basic concepts


General concept of biochemistry. Chemical elements present to living beings. Levels of structural organization of biomolecules. Types of links between molecules. Biological importance of water. Concept of pH and pK.


Topic 2. Proteins: functions and primary structure


Types of proteins and functions. Structure and properties of amino acids. Peptides and peptide link. Composition and sequence of amino acids of proteins.


Topic 3. Three-dimensional structure of proteins


Structuring levels of proteins. Description of alpha helix and beta pleated sheet. Fibrous and globular proteins. Folding of proteins. Quaternary structure.


Topic 4. Function and evolution of proteins: oxygen transport proteins.


Storage and transport of oxygen: myoglobin and hemoglobin as examples of protein evolution. Allosterism and cooperativity of hemoglobin. Different forms of hemoglobin: physiological adaptation and molecular pathology.


Topic 5. Enzymes, enzymatic kinetics and regulation.


Nature and function. Classification and nomenclature of enzymes. Effects of catalysts on chemical reactions. Enzymatic mechanisms. Enzymatic kinetics: Michaelis-Menten model. Enzymatic cofactors. Enzymatic inhibition. Regulation of enzymatic activity: allosterics, covalent modification and changes in enzyme concentration. Biomedical and biotechnological applications.


Topic 6. Glucids.


Types of glucose and functions. Monosaccharides, description and properties. Glycosidic link Oligosaccharides. Polysaccharides Glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycolipids.


Topic 7. Nucleic acids.


Nature and function. Nucleotides. Primary structure of nucleic acids. Secondary structure: Watson and Crick model and alternative structures. Tertiary structure: DNA transfer and super-proliferation RNA. Complex DNA-proteins: organization of chromosomes.


Topic 8. Lipids.


Types of lipids and functions. Storage pumps


Topic 9. Introduction to metabolism.


Concept of metabolism Biochemical and thermodynamic reactions: free energy in biological processes. Role of ATP and other phosphorylated compounds. Biological reactions of oxidation-reduction. Regulation of metabolic processes.


Topic 10. Biosignaling.


Extracellular chemical signals: hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors. Properties of the signal transduction mechanisms. Signal transduction main systems: membrane and intracellular receptors.


Topic 11. Metabolism of glucose.


Degradation of glucose: glycolysis and pentoses phosphate pathway. Fermentation Gluconeogenesis. Synthesis and degradation of glycogen.


Topic 12. Central routes of oxidative metabolism.


Production of acetyl-CoA. Cycle of citric acid. Energy performance and regulation. Anaplerotic reactions.


Topic 13. Energy transitions: oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis.


Mitochondrial chain electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. Respiratory control Chain of photosynthetic electron transport chain and photophosphorylation. Biosynthesis of glucides (Calvin cycle). Regulation of photosynthesis.


Topic 14. Lipid Metabolism.


Metabolism of fatty acids. Regulation of the metabolism of fatty acids. Ketogenesis. Cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism.


Topic 15. Metabolism of nitrogen compounds.


Catabolism of amino acids. Excretion of nitrogen and urea cycle. Nitrogen fixation. Metabolism of nucleotides.



PROBLEMS


The problems refer to some aspects of the Theory program, such as chemical equilibrium and amortizing systems, enzymatic kinetics, Lambert-Beer law, free energy and constant equilibrium, reduction potential and redox reactions. The collection of statements will be presented at the beginning of the semester through the Virtual Campus of the subject.



Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Delivery of questions proposed through the Virtual Campus 5 0.2
study 55 2.2
problems 10 0.4
individual tutorials 5 0.2
theory 35 1.4
problem resolution 25 1

The training activities are divided into two sections: theory classes and problem classes. Each of them has its own specific methodology. These activities will be complemented by a series of tutoring sessions that will be programmed additionally.

Theory classes

The teacher will explain the contents of the syllabus with the support of graphic material (class presentations) that will be made available to students through the Virtual Campus of the subject.

These lectures will be the most important part of the theory section.

Problems classes

During the course, 10 hours will be devoted to class sessions of problems.

The group will be divided into two equitable subgroups in number, whose lists will be made public at the beginning of the course. Students will attend the sessions programmed by their group.

At the beginning of the semester, the dossier of statements of subject problems that will be solved during the course will be delivered through the Moodle classroom. The dossier will contain 5 blocks according to the problem agenda and each block will include 3-4 statements. The teacher will solve the problems of the dossier during the face-to-face sessions. If deemed necessary, the teacher will be able to impart supplementary theory material necessary to solve the problems corresponding to one of the blocks. It is advisable that students prepare the resolution of the problems as self-employed before the session, in order to optimize learning.

Tutorials

Individual tutorials will be carried out at the request of the students. In the event that the number of applications was extremely high, especially for partial examinations, up to 3 classroom tutorials that would be announced on a timely basis through the Virtual Campus could be carried out. The objective of these sessions will be to resolve doubts, review basic concepts. These sessions will not be exhibitable nor in them will be advanced matter of the official agenda, but will be sessions ofdebate and discussion.

Material available in the Moodle classroom of the subject

 

Teaching guide

Calendar of teaching activities (classroom, assessments, deliveries ...)

Presentations used by teachers to theory classes

Dossier with statements of problems and complementary material

 

Teachers will dedicate approximately 15 minutes of a class to allow their students to answer the evaluation surveys of the teaching performance and evaluation of the subject or module.

 

 

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Partial or final individual tests of problems 20% 3 0.12 CM05, CM06, KM03, KM04, SM04
Partial or final individual proofs of theory 75 9 0.36 CM04, CM05, CM06, KM03, KM04, SM04
Delivery of resolutions to problems proposed through the C.V. 5% 3 0.12 CM05, CM06, KM03, KM04, SM04

A/ Continuous assessment

The evaluation of this subject will have the format of continuous evaluation with a final test of recovery. To participate in the recovery, the students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the subject or module. Therefore, students will obtain the \"Non-Valuable\" qualification when the assessment activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final grade. The objective of the continuous evaluation is to encourage the student's effort throughout the semester, allowing to monitor their degree of follow-up and understanding of the subject. The final test of recovery is used to verify that the student has reached the necessary degree of integration of knowledge of the subject, in case of having suspended the continuous evaluation.

1) Theory

Individual assessment through:

Two partial tests with quiz questions and short answer questions.

A final test for recovering that will have the same format as the partial ones. This exam is aimed at students who have obtained a grade of less than 3.5 in partial tests.

The weight of the theory evaluation will be 75% of the total, 37,5% for each partial.

2) Problems

a) Individual assessment through:

Two partial tests where problems were solved in problem-solving blogs (2-3 problems for a partial test).

A final recovery test with problemscorresponding to the problem agenda. This exam is aimed at students who have not passed with grade of less than 3.5 in partial test.

The weight of the individual evaluation of problems will be 20% of the total.

b) Evaluation of synthesis problems:

Twice during the course, a summary problem will be given through the Moodle classroom that students willhave to solve in teams of 4 students and return to the teacher within the set period. Each of these synthesis problems will be corrected and evaluated. If a group does not deliver the problems or does it outside the set deadline, it will receive a score of 0. If a student delivers the problem individually and / or out of time, he will receive a rating of 0. It is the responsibility of the students checked that the computer file with the problem of synthesis resolved was delivered correctly in time and form. The qualification of this part will be calculated as the average of the qualifications of the two synthesis problems. The mark obtained will be the same for all the team members, as long as all of them have participated in the resolution of the synthesis problem in an equivalent way. The involvement of the different members of the team will be checked by means of a small individual and confidential survey, where each member of the team will evaluate himself and the rest of the members. This note will modulate the note obtained in the synthesis problems. The weight of the evaluation of team problems will be 5% of the total.

To 75% of the theory grade will be added the 20% corresponding to problems grade and the 5% corresponding to the deliveries.

The two sections (Theory and Problems) are inseparable, so that the student must participate, and be evaluated, in both to overcome the matter. To be able to make the average of the marks between partial tests, without going to the final test of recovery, the student will have to obtain in each one of the partials a qualification equal or superior to 3,5. In addition, in the case of the problems, the global note of the problem module (individual evaluation + synthesis problems evaluation) must be equal to or greater than 3.5 to be able to ponder with the blockof theoretical note.

If the global note of the problem module or the theory note is lower than the minimum marks required, it will not be possible to do the weighting and the subject will receive a maximum final grade of 3.5.

In the recovery examinations you must also obtain a qualification of 3.5 or more to be able to do the weighting.

Those students who have passed the partial proofs of theory and / or problems want to improve their qualification may choose to present themselves to the proof of recovery of the whole subject matter or one of the partial ones (theory and / or problems). The student who is present in the note will quit the note obtained above.

- To participate in the recovery, the students must have been previously evaluated in a series of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the subject. Therefore, students will obtain the \"Non-Appraising\" qualification when the assessment activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final grade

It is necessary to obtain a final grade equal to or greater than 5 to pass the subject, either through partial tests or through the final recovery test.

B/ Single assessment

In the single assessment, the student will be examined in the same call in the two main parts of the subject as following:

  1. Theory part: It will be a single synthesis exam that includes the contents of the entire theory program and will consist of multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions. The weight of the theory part in the overall grade of the subject will be 75%.
  2. Part of classroom practices (problems): It consists of an exam composed of 2 to 3 exercises to be solved by the student and that includes the contents of the entire program of problems. The weight of this part in the overall grade of the subject will be 20%. The remaining 5% corresponds to the grade of the deliveries that the student will have made through the virtual campus on the date agreed with the teacher.

- The single assessment test will be held on the same day, time and place as the last continuous assessment test of the subject.

- The same recovery system will be applied as for continuous assessment. The single assessment can be retaken on the day set for the retake of the continuous assessment.

- The same non-assessable criterion will be applied as for continuous assessment.

To 75% of the theory grade will be added the 20% corresponding to problems grade and the 5% corresponding to the deliveries.

It is necessary to obtain a final grade equal to or greater than 5 to pass the subject.


C/ About the irregularities in the evaluation acts (academic fraud, plagiarism or misuse of AI):

"Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (academic misconduct, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that activity being graded as 0. If the course syllabus stipulates that obtaining a minimum mark in this assessment is an essential requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who incurs any of these irregularities."

Bibliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A/ THEORY

- Berg, Jeremy M. (2023). Biochemistry. (10th ed.) Macmillan. Available online.

- Berg, Jeremy M. [i altres]. (2023). Biochemistry. (10th ed.) ‎Macmillan Learning. Available on paper in the library.

- Cornish-Bowden, Athel. (2012). Fundamentals of enzyme kinetics. (4th ed., completely revised and greatly enlarged) Wiley-Blackwell. Available online.

- Kennelly, Peter J. & Rodwell, Victor W. (2024). Harper bioquímica ilustrada. (32ª ed.) McGraw Hill Interamericana. Available on paper in the library.

- McKee, Trudy & McKee, James R. (2020). Bioquímica : las bases moleculares de la vida. (7ª ed.) McGraw-Hill Interamericana Editores. Available on paper in the library.

- McKee, Trudy & McKee, James R. (2020). Bioquímica : Las bases moleculares de la vida. (7ª ed.) McGraw-Hill Education LLC. Available online.

- Nelson, David L. [i altres]. (2021). Lehninger principles of biochemistry. (8th ed.) Macmillan Learning. Available on paper in the library.

- Nelson, David L. [i altres]. (2021). Lehninger principles of biochemistry. (8th ed.) Macmillan International Higher Education. Available online.

- Rodwell, Victor W. [i altres]. (2022). Harper. Bioquímica ilustrada . (32ª ed.) McGraw-Hill Education LLC. Available online.

- Tymoczko, John L. & Stryer, Lubert & Berg, Jeremy M. (2014). Bioquímica : curso básico. (1st ed.) Reverté. Available online.

- Tymoczko, John L. & Stryer, Lubert & Berg, Jeremy M. (2014). Bioquímica : curso básico. Reverté. Available on paper in the library.

- Voet, Donald & Voet, Judith G. & Pratt, Charlotte W. (2018). Voet's principles of biochemistry. (Global ed.) John Wiley & Sons. Available on paper in the library.


B/ PROBLEMES

- Nelson, D.L. and Cox, M.M. Lehninger-Principles of Biochemistry (2017). 7th edition. Macmillan Learning.

- Biochemical calculations. 2nd ed. segel, i. h. (1976). wiley and sons.

- Quantitative problems in biochemistry. e.a. dawes. (1980). longman g.l.

- Contemporary enzyme kinetics and mechanism. editat per d. purich. (1983). academic press.

- Problemas de bioquimica. cárdenas, fernández, galván, márquez, vega. (1988) ed. alhambra.

- Protéines et enzymes td. viratelle. (1993). hermann éditeurs des sciences et arts.

- Fundamentals of enzyme kinetics. cornish-bowden. (2012). 4th ed. wiley-blackwell.

- Macarulla J.M., Marino A. i Macarulla A. (1992) Bioquímica Cuantitativa. Ed. Reverté.

- Cárdenas, Jacobo. (1988). Problemas de bioquímica.Alhambra.Available on paper in the library.

- Segel, Irwin H. (1976). Biochemical calculations : how to solve mathematical problems in general biochemistry. (2nd ed.) John Wiley. Available on paper in the library.

- Dawes, Edwin A. (1972). Quantitative problems in biochemistry. (5th ed.) Williams and Wilkins. Available on paper in the library.


Software

No specific software will be used in this course.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 61 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 611 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 612 Spanish second semester morning-mixed