Medical Biochemistry
Study Course Implementer
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, cfbk@rsu.lv, dace.reihmane@rsu.lv, +371 67061550
About Study Course
Objective
Preliminary Knowledge
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.On completion of the course students will be able to: • explain and describe the synthesis and hydrolysis of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates; • name factors influencing enzyme activity; • classify digestive enzymes according to their mechanism of action and name the enzymes involved in digestion of the main nutrient classes; • recognise and name the basic metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism, name enzymes and characterise their principle of action, explain the role and regulation of various metabolic pathways and cycles (e.g. glycolysis, oxidative decarboxylation and the Krebs cycle, glycogen synthesis and breakdown); • identify and recognise the major metabolites of lipid metabolism, name enzymes and describe their principle of action, explain the role and regulation of various metabolic pathways (e.g. beta oxidation, fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis); • recognise and name the major metabolites of amino acid metabolism, name enzymes and characterise the principle of action, explain the role and regulation of metabolic pathways (e.g. ammonium detoxification and urea cycle); • describe metabolic pathways in human metabolism that connect carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids and allow these groups of substances to transform into each other, name hormones that affect these transformations; • name and explain complications related to dysfunction of biochemical pathways studied in the course (e.g. lactoacidosis and ketoacidosis); • name and explain differences between biochemical processes of various tissues/organs (cellular metabolism) and their specific adaptations; • learn methods required for basic biochemistry analysis performed in medicine.
Skills
1.1. Use of knowledge – ability to: • explain how enzymes activity is affected, based on the mechanism of action of enzymes; • explain how molecules are sequentially digested during digestion process, identify end products of digestion process; • explain step by step using the appropriate metabolic pathways, carbohydrates degradation for energy generation and carbohydrate storage; • explain sequentially with appropriate metabolic pathways, lipid breakdown for energy extraction and carbohydrates storage; • explain sequentially using the appropriate metabolic pathways, the degradation of amino acids for energy generation, fate of the carbon skeleton and the ammonia detoxification; • explain step by step using the appropriate metabolic pathways, interactions between fats and sugars and evaluate in which metabolic situations these transformations take place; • explain the application and basic principle of biochemical tests of biological samples (blood and urine) used to determine the functional state of the human body. 2. Problem solving skills. 3. Skills to use scientific literature as a source of information. 4. Laboratory safety skills. 5. Communication skills gained through organized team work.
Competences
1.On completion of the course students will be able to: • assess possible changes in the regulation of enzymes in various homeostatic disorders and predict the consequences on total metabolism; • analyse possible changes on the digestive process with low activity of certain digestive enzymes, and predict consequences on the total spectrum of absorbed nutrients; • analyse possible changes in human metabolism in the presence of some carbohydrate, lipid or amino acid pathway disorders and predict their effects on other metabolic pathways and human homeostasis; • use the skills acquired in laboratory work – prepare and conduct laboratory experiment, use the relevant equipment and evaluate the results in further practical or scientific work; • integrate knowledge of biochemistry as part of the knowledge of the individual by promoting a perception of the human as a single organism.
Assessment
Individual work
Examination
Study Course Theme Plan
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Organic Compounds. Functional Groups and Isomers.
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Functional groups, isomers, basic organic compounds.
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General properties of functional groups. Reaction types (Oxidation – Reduction; Condensation and Hydrolysis; SN1, SN2, E1, E2).
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Functional groups, reaction mechanisms (oxidation – reduction; condensation, hydrolysis; SN, E mechanisms). Chemical bonds.
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Carbohydrates. Structure. Properties.
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Reducing properties of sugars.
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Structure, optical and structural isomers, mono-, di-, poli-saccharides.
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Fats. Structures. Properties.
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Amino acids and Proteins. Structure. Properties.
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Denaturation of proteins.
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Lipids. Structures. Properties. Amino acids, proteins, structures. Intermolecular forces.
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Enzymes, enzyme classes, enzyme specificities.
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Influence of temperature and pH on enzyme activity.
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Test: Macromolecules and reaction mechanisms. / Recognizing and describing enzyme classes.
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Enzyme activation and inhibition mechanisms.
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Specificity of enzymes.
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Enzyme activation and inhibition mechanisms, their use in medicine.
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Regulation of Enzyme activity in metabolic pathways, vitamins as biological catalysts.
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Activation and inhibition of salivary amylase, changes in amyloclastic force.
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General metabolic regulation and vitamin derived cofactors.
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Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and proteins.
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Analysis of glucosidases in digestive juices.
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Hydrolysis of nutrients, peptide chain cleavage.
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Digestion and absorption of lipids, synthesis and functions of bile acids/salts.
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Functions of the lipase and bile, structure of bile acids.
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Hydrolysis of nutrients, diseases related to digestion.
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Colloquium I.
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Glycolysis
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Regulation of glycolysis, differences in various tissues
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Oxidative decarboxylation. The Citric Acid (Tricarboxylic acid, Krebs) Cycle.
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Determination of succinate dehydrogenase.
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Anabolic role of CAC. Calculations of acquired energy.
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Bioenergetics, role of ATP in human metabolism. Oxidative stress.
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Determination of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase).
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Oxidative stress. Activators and inhibitors of ETC.
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Anaerobic glycolysis, buffer systems, gluconeogenesis, cori cycle.
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Determination of pyruvate, lactate.
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Lactic acidosis - symptoms, causes and treatments.
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Malate-aspartate shuttle. Glycerol-3P shuttle. Pentose Phosphate Pathway. Fructose metabolism.
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Metabolism of glycogen and galactose. Blood glucose homeostasis.
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Oxidation of carbohydrates. Dismetabolism.
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Storage of carbohydrates. Dismetabolism.
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Colloquium II.
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Transport and storage of lipids. Biosynthesis of cholesterol, functions.
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Lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), Cholesterol, relation to high CH diet, hypercholesterolaemia.
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Fatty Acid Catabolism, Ketogenesis
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Energy in lipid metabolism – calculations. Carnitine deficiency, ketoacidosis.
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Lipid biosynthesis (Fatty acids, TAGs and membrane Phospholipids).
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Lipid biosynthesis - calculations, related pathologies.
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Protein catabolism, amino acid oxidation and the production of urea.
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Transamination, deamination, role in various tissues. Importance of clinical biomarkers (ALT and AST).
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Biosynthesis of amino acids, their derivates – biogenic amines, creatine, glutathione. Biosynthesis and degradation of purines, pyrimidines, heme.
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Variety of nitrogen containing compounds and their functions in body.
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Hormones – classification and characteristics based on structure, general action mechanisms.
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Hormonal regulation (insulin, glucagon) of metabolism in absorptive/postabsorptive periods.
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Blood and urine biomarkers of nitrogen metabolism.
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Colloquium III.
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Liver metabolism.
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The role of liver in detoxification. Enzymes in diagnostics (e.g. ALT, AST, Alkaline phosphatase).
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Obesity, body weight regulation.
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Factors related to increased risk of obesity.
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Fuel metabolism during exercise.
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Aspects that determine the use of different energy systems. Heath benefits provided by regular physical activity.
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Can we "run away" from Metabolic Syndrome?
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Metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes.
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Metabolic aspects of oncological disease.
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Big data analysis with R.
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Colloquium IV.
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General overview about enzymes and digestion.
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General overview about carbohydrate metabolsim.
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General overview about protein and lipid metabolism.
Bibliography
Required Reading
Nelson, D. L. and Cox, M. M. 2017. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed. New York: W. H. Freeman & Co (ISBN: 978-1464187964)
Additional Reading
Murray, R. K., Granner, D.K., Mayes, P. A. and Rodwell, V.W. 2018. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, 31th ed. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies.
Devlin, T.M. 2011. Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations (Wiley-Liss; 7th ed.). 1240
Harvey, R.A. and Ferrier, D.R. 2010. Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry (Lippincott's Illustrated Teviews Series). 544
Miķelsone, V. 2008. Bioķīmija. Jelgava, LLU.
Lieberman, M.A. and Peet, A. 2018. Marks' Basic Medical Biochemistry. 5th ed. Lippincott Williams& Wilkins
Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students:
Murray, R. K., Granner, D.K., Mayes, P. A. and Rodwell, V.W. 2018. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, 31th ed. USA: McGraw-Hill Companies.
Devlin, T.M. 2011. Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations (Wiley-Liss; 7th ed.). 1240
Harvey, R.A. and Ferrier, D.R. 2010. Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry (Lippincott's Illustrated Teviews Series). 544
Other Information Sources
Zinātniskie raksti PubMed žurnālos
Currie, E., Schulze A., Zechner R., Walther, T. C., and Farese Jr., R. V. 2013. Cellular Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cancer. Cell Metabolism. 18 (2), 153–161.
Kaoutari, A. E., Armougom, F., Gordon, J. I., Raoult, D. and Henrissa, B. 2013. The abundance and variety of carbohydrate-active enzymes in the human gut microbiota. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 11, 497–504.
Mudgil, D. and Barak, S., 2013. Composition, properties and health benefits of indigestible carbohydrate polymers as dietaryfiber:A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.61, 1-6. Science Direct. Research gate.
Vaishnavi, S. N., Vlassenko, A. G., Rundle, M. M., Snyder, A. Z., et.al. 2010. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107 (41) 17757-17762.
Wu, F. and Minteer, S. 2015. Krebs Cycle Metabolon: Structural Evidence of Substrate Channeling Revealed by Cross‐Linking and Mass Spectrometry. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 54: 1851-1854.