Universidad de Jaén

PROGRAM OF THEORY

 1. Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 

 Section I: Structure and biological function of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins

2. Structure and biological function of carbohydrates. 

3. Structure and function of lipids and biological membranes. 

4. Structure of proteins.

5. Proteins: structure and function relationship. 

6. Dynamics of proteins and proteomics. 

 Section II: Enzymology

7. enzymatic catalysis. Enzyme concept. General characteristics. 

8. Enzyme kinetics. 

9. Regulation of enzymatic activity. 

Section III. Structure and function of nucleic acids

10. Structure of nucleic acids. 

11. Replication of genetic material. 

12. Transcript. 

13. Protein synthesis. 

14. Technical handling of nucleic acids.  

Section IV. Intermediary metabolism

15. General characteristics of metabolic pathways.

16. Bioenergetics. 

17. Glycolysis and fermentations. 

18. TCA cycle (Krebs cycle). 

19. Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. 

21. Other routes of glucose metabolism.

22. Photosynthesis. Photosynthetic pigments and photophosphorylation. Calvin-Benson cycle.

23. Metabolism of lipids. 

24. Metabolism of nitrogen compounds. 

25. Metabolic Integration.

SEMINAR SESSIONS

Determination of peptide sequences.

Enzymology: determination of kinetic parameters and enzyme inhibition.

Nucleic acids and flow of genetic information: genetic code and mutations.

Bioenergetics and metabolism.

  PROGRAM OF LABORATORY SESSIONS

 PRACTICE 1. Purification and characterization of an enzyme (glutathione S-transferase)

Session 1. Characterization of the enzyme kinetics: determination of K m and V max (lab.1).

Session 2 protein fractionation by precipitation with ammonium sulfate (Lab. 2).

Session 3. Purification by ion exchange chromatography. Performing a purification table (Lab. 3).

Session 4. Determination of protein concentration and performing the purification table (Lab. 4).

PRACTICE 2. Determination of the level of expression of glutathione S-transferase by Western blot.

5. SDS-PAGE (Lab. 5).

Session 6. Immunodetection (Lab. 6).

PRACTICE 3. Amplification of a DNA sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Session 7. Identification of transformed colonies by PCR (Lab. 7)

Presentation and discussion of results (Lab. 8).

- Theoretical academic sessions (large group) in which the proposed theory program will be developed.

- Laboratory sessions (small group) where students carry out different techniques and experimental methods in the laboratory  The results must be analyzed, discussed and presented in a workbook.

- Seminar sessions (small group) in which students must solve practical problems by applying the knowledge acquired in the different parts of the subject.

- Seminars with presentation and discussion, by groups of 2 or 3 students on topics of interest

- Tutorization sessions (individual and collective) in which the student may refer all questions or concerns regarding the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

In the section S3 10% will be problems and 5% to seminars.

Within the different sections competencies will be evaluated as follows:

S2: B1, CE15 and CE16.

S3: Q2, B1 and B6.

S4: P5, B1 and C16.